April 18, 2008
Brave taxi driver chased knife thug who stole takings
A BRAVE taxi driver fought back when a knife thug robbed him of his takings and then tried to steal his cab, a court was told.
The High Court in Glasgow heard cabbie Paul Townsend was robbed at knifepoint as he drove 33-year-old Colin Smart around East Kilbride.
Smart threatened Mr Townsend with the weapon and ordered him to "stop the car and put the money on the seat".
In a bid to stop Smart taking the cab, Mr Townsend banged the driver's door against the accused's hand and head and then kicked him twice on the face.
Smart ran off but Mr Townsend chased him and flagged down a passing motorist shouting: "I've been robbed."
Smart threatened the driver, off-duty police officer Fiona Campbell, and ordered her out of her car.
Ms Campbell and Mr Townsend gave chase in his car. Seconds later they found the stolen car crashed. Smart was lying in a pool of blood with the knife still beside him.
Ms Campbell removed the knife and dialled 999.
The court heard Smart, who suffered pelvic injuries in the smash, was in hospital for weeks.
Yesterday, he admitted assaulting Mr Townsend, robbing him of £370 and attempting to rob him of his car.
Smart also pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Campbell by demanding she leave her car and robbing her of it.
Both offences were committed at Markethill Road, East Kilbride, on June 11, last year.
Smart also admitted robbing another taxi driver Gerard Ward of his car and £135 in cash earlier that day.
Judge Lord Turnbull deferred sentence on Smart, who is described as a prisoner in Barlinnie, until next month for background reports and an assessment of the risk he poses to the public.
Filed under Mini Cab News by admin
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