Dad denies robbery of Brighouse taxi driver

A father-of-one has told a jury he had nothing at all to do with the late-night robbery of a Brighouse cabbie.
Scales of justiceScales of justice
Scales of justice

Richard Powe, 25, is alleged to have attacked 43-year-old Iftikhar Muhammad in April last year after being picked up from a takeaway in Brighouse just after midnight.

The prosecution has alleged that Powe, who now runs his own fencing and decking business, punched Mr Muhammad in the face and stole his night’s takings together with a mobile phone.

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Powe, of Aysgarth Avenue, Lightcliffe, was questioned by police about the incident after a CCTV image of him take at the takeaway featured in a newspaper report.

Yesterday Powe said he had been out that day to watch the Bradford Bulls versus Leeds Rhinos match and had drunk about five or six pints of lager in a Brighouse pub before going to the Turkish Delight takeaway with two other men and a woman.

He said his friend ordered two taxis and he was planning to go to the Sun Inn, but he found out in the taxi that the pub was already shut.

Powe said he told the driver to pull up on Stoney Lane and after giving him the £4.50 fare he went straight home.

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During questioning from his barrister Mark McKone Powe said at the time of the alleged robbery he and his partner had thousands of pounds in their joint bank account and on the day of the rugby match he had withdrawn £150 from a cashpoint.

Powe, who was then working for an air-conditioning firm, said he had no financial difficulties at the time.

He told the jury at Bradford Crown Court that he had been in the rear of the taxi during his journey home and had only had a bit of banter with the driver when he asked for the fare.

Powe denied taking any money from the cabbie and said the driver was not injured in any way when he left him.

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“Did there come a time when you realised that your image from the CCTV in the takeaway had gone in the newspaper in Halifax?” asked Mr McKone.

“I received a text message from my brother while at work,” said Powe.

“As soon as I had seen it I rang the police and asked them why I was in the paper being accuse of this crime.”

Powe then attended a pre-arranged meeting at the police station.

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“Did you have anything at all to do with the robbery of a taxi driver on April 7 last year?” asked Mr McKone.

“No, nothing at all,” replied Powe.

Powe has denied one charge of robbery and the trial continues.