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Teenage robber held broken bottle at taxi driver's face
A HALIFAX teenager who terrorised a cabbie with a broken bottle before stealing his takings has been locked up for three years – a sentence welcomed by taxi drivers.
Luke Fusco, 19, attacked Mohammed Shahid in his cab after a drink and drugs binge. He grabbed his neck from behind and threatened to stab him with the jagged glass.
Mr Shahid, 47, had picked up Fusco, of Furness Drive, Illingworth, with two other men in Crossley Street, Halifax, at 3.45am.
Andrew Conboy, prosecuting, said: "Mr Shahid was still in first gear and just starting off when Fusco forced his head back, pointed a broken bottle towards him and threatened to stab him.
"Mr Shahid handed over 150 but Fusco demanded more. He then handed over an 80 bag of coins. But Fusco wasn't happy with that and again said he would stab him."
The three eventually fled, throwing the bottle at the taxi.
Fusco admitted robbery and was sentenced to three years in a young offender institution.
Jayne Beckett, for Fusco, told Bradford Crown Court he had been drinking heavily and had taken cocaine for the first time.
"He remembers virtually nothing but is appalled at what he did to a vulnerable victim."
Fusco's sentence was welcomed by private-hire drivers who say such attacks happen with alarming regularity.
Mohammed Siddique, owner of Crossley's taxis who Mr Shahid was working for at the time, said: "It is good to send a message out that people cannot behave like this.
"These attacks are a big problem, epecially at this time of year when it gets dark. We fear for our drivers' safety."
Stephen Smithies, secretary of Halifax Taxi Owners' Association, who has suffered physical and verbal abuse at work, said: "It is good to set an example and send a definite message out on the side of taxi drivers."
Mr Shahid is still a driver and has recently joined another private-hire firm.
Acting Detective Inspector Gary Stephenson said: "Taxi drivers should not have to fear the threat of assault."
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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