Cabbie robbers caught

TWO Oldham men involved in robbing a terrified taxi driver at knifepoint, were given suspended two-year prison sentences.

Liam Fairfoull (21), of Striding Edge Walk, Higginshaw, and Zeshan Akram (22), of Copster Hill Road, Oldham, were convicted by a trial jury at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court last month.

Both denied robbery and blamed an unidentified third man, saying they had had no idea what was going to happen, and had not been involved.

But CCTV footage obtained by police showed all three men strolling amicably together some time after the robbery, and the taxi driver’s cash bag was later found at Akram’s home address.

Both men were ordered to carry out 300 hours unpaid work in addition to the suspended sentence, and each was ordered to pay £750 compensation to their victim.

Recorder Mr Simon Parrington told them: “This was a serious robbery with serious aggravating features on any view.

“There were three of you against a lone and vulnerable driver, it was night time, and a weapon was used.”

The two men, along with a third who has not yet been identified, took a cab from Milne Street, Werneth, to Greenacres, Oldham, on March 29 last year.

Part way through the journey, driver Mujibur Rahman was suddenly told to pull up, he felt what he believed was a knife pressed against his neck, and all three began shouting at him to hand over his money, phone and keys.

Fairfoull, an electrician, and Akram blamed the unknown third man for the robbery, and said they had had no idea what was going to happen, and had not been involved.

CCTV footage obtained by police showed all three men strolling amicably together some time after the robbery, and the taxi driver’s cash bag was later found at Akram’s home address.

He added: “Neither of you did anything to prevent what took place, and the driver says that all three of you were demanding his money.”

Mr Curran told both he felt able to suspend their jail terms for two years because both had already been subject to curfew by electronic tagging for a lengthy period pending trial, the offence was out of character and he had conjured they had the potential to make something of their lives.

Fairfoull of Striding Edge Walk, Higginshaw, and Akram of Copster Hill Road, Oldham, had pleaded not guilty to a single charge of robbery.