Tip-off led police to robbers, court

TWO Oldham men alleged to have violently robbed a 70-year old taxi driver after a night on the town, were caught just hours later when they turned up for a birthday celebration in a pub.

Police investigating the vicious assault were tipped off that the pair would be there by a girl friend who worked behind the bar at The Eagle pub, in Bolton Road, Rochdale, and had been with them the previous night.

Party

Investigating officers had been given Paige Williamson’s name after first visiting another Rochdale pub where the two men had gone with her to a ladies darts night, and were finally picked up by the taxi for their ride home to Oldham at around 1.30am.

She not only gave police their names, but volunteered the information that they would be back at The Eagle for her birthday party later the same day.

Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court was told that Michael Edhouse (25) and Daniel Swaincott (26) were standing at the bar when police arrived, and were promptly arrested.

A jury was told by DC Simon Moyles, the officer in charge of the inquiry: “We would have found them, but without Paige Williamson’s help we wouldn’t have found them so quickly.”

Miss Williamson who knew Swaincott but had only just met Edhouse, had recommended the local taxi firm to the pair when they decided it was time to go.

Pensioner Francis McBride, who worked for Streamline cars, agreed to take the men despite their being drunk and short of money to pay the full fare.

When he got to their destination in Lichen Crescent, Fitton Hill, where Swaincott lived, the jury was told he was attacked and robbed by the pair.

Demanded

Paul Hodgkinson prosecuting, said Edhouse, who had been sitting behind the driver in the Toyota Avensis car, suddenly leaned forward, grabbing Mr McBride’s neck in a stranglehold.

Swaincott, sitting in the front passenger seat, demanded all his cash and began punching him to the face and jaw.

The pair then fled with around £300 in cash and his electronic taxi meter worth £400.

When arrested at The Eagle pub, one of three in the Rochdale area they had visited before the robbery on May 29, Edhouse had with him a sports bag which was found to contain a drawstring bag containing loose coins, and transparent plastic money bags, similar to one stolen in the robbery.

Both men admit they had been picked up by Mr McBride, but claim they had paid up-front for their ride home, and simply got out and walked away when they arrived at their destination.

Swaincott told police he had been drinking whisky and coke and had been “smashed”. He said: “I did not rob no-one and I never attacked no-one that night.”

Edhouse of Barmouth Court, Oldham, and Swaincott, both deny a charge of robbery.

(Proceeding)