Cabbie tells of terror knife robbery

A TERRIFIED Oldham taxi driver was robbed of his takings at knifepoint after picking up three men in the early hours, a Manchester Crown Court jury heard.

Mujibur Rahman was working for Rollers private hire when he was asked to collect the men from an address in Werneth after 2am on March 29, 2014.

The three got into the car but were vague about their destination. Mr Rahman took them to Greenacres and was told to stop near a roundabout. As he stopped, a knife was pressed against the back of his neck and all three passengers started demanding money, his mobile phone and keys. The terrified driver handed over around £40.

Mr Rahman said he was told he would be stabbed unless he gave them his cash, but when another taxi appeared, the three men ran off with the money. Mr Rahman asked HQ to call police while he followed the three in the car.

The court heard that 21-year old Liam Fairfoull was arrested that night and a second man, Zeshan Akram, was arrested days later. Both admitted being in the taxi, but both blamed the unknown third man for the crime. CCTV footage showed all three men later calmly walking through the town centre.

Fairfoull claimed he had known nothing of the plan to rob the driver, and said he believed the third man had been a cousin of Akram, who said he believed the man to have been a friend of Fairfoull.

Fairfoull, of Striding Edge Walk, Higginshaw, Oldham, and Akram (22), of Copster Hill Road, Oldham, both plead not guilty to robbery.

The case continues.