Two years for taxi thug: Campaigners delighted at sentence

CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed a two-year prison sentence for a thug who attacked and robbed a taxi driver.

Craig Watson, 25, of Waterhouse Street, Halifax, was jailed for brutally attacking the driver, leaving him needing three stitches around an eye, and stealing up to £150.

Judge Christopher Attwool, who sentenced Watson to two years and three months in prison, said: “This was a nasty attack on a member of the community who are always vulnerable and need the protection of the courts.”

Now police chiefs and taxi drivers who have formed a working group to combat the growing number of attacks on Calderdale’s cabbies, have welcomed the decision.

Arshad Mahmood, treasurer of the Calderdale Private Hire Association, said: “We are really delighted.

“It is very reassuring for us that these attacks are finally being treated more seriously and just hope this will deter anyone else who thinks drivers are fair game.”

David Mackay, prosecuting, told Bradford Crown Court the attack took place on Tuel Lane, Sowerby Bridge, after the driver had picked Watson up from a bar in Hebden Bridge.

He said: “The driver tried to talk but Watson said he didn’t want to and tried to smoke a roll up cigarette in the car. “The driver said he couldn’t smoke and Watson replied, ‘Me and you are going to fall out in a minute’.”

Mr Mackay said the driver pulled over and Watson demanded his earnings before punching him in the face and reaching in and taking the money from behind the steering wheel.

Watson then told the driver he was robbing him because he “didn’t have a white face” before running off down Tuel Lane.

Nigel Hamilton, for Watson, said he had been drinking heavily before the attack and confessed his crime to his foster father the next day.
He said: “Any robbery on a taxi driver at night is of course a serious offence and he is genuinely remorseful.”

Detective Insp Tony Nicholson of Calderdale CID, said: “We are very pleased at the sentence for what was a nasty attack.

“We are continuing to do all we can to protect Calderdale’s drivers and stop these attacks.”

Watson pleaded guilty to the robbery just after midnight on April 12.