Cabbie robbed in ‘knife’ terror

AN Oldham taxi driver was robbed then forced to drive to a cash point by a man who claimed he was armed with a knife.

Geraint Thomas (36) had hoped to make easy money by selling the cabbie jewellery he said was gold, worth £80-£100. The driver, Nadeem Rehmat, told him he wasn’t interested, at which point Thomas turned nasty.

Manchester’s Minshull Street Court was told Thomas asked the driver if he had a knife, and when told no, said: “Well, I have”.

Thomas leaned across and patted the driver’s pocket feeling for his wallet, ordering the cabbie to hand over his cash. The terrified driver was then ordered to drive to a nearby cash point to get more money, but managed to persuade Thomas he did not have any bank cards with him.

Tony Longworth, prosecuting, said after Thomas got out and drove off in his own car, the cabbie bravely followed. Police were quickly able to identify him from details of his vehicle.

Thomas was found guilty of robbery by a Crown Court jury last month, and was sentenced to 14 months in prison at an adjourned hearing. The court was told Thomas had refused to admit guilt throughout his trial.

Recorder Sally Hatfield told him: “Though no weapon was actually produced, your victim believed you had a knife and within the confined space of the car, must have been terrified.”

The court was told the “gold” bangles offered by Thomas, of Ealing, London, had little value. He had approached Mr Rehmat’s car in Glodwick last April, asking for a cigarette.

The court was told that frightened Mr Rehmat had tried to get rid of him by offering £40 for the jewellery, which Thomas said wasn’t enough. Thomas had made off with £120 from the driver’s wallet before police caught him.