Alleged knife wielding taxi BILKER charged by police

Police in Brighton have charged a man who allegedly wielded a knife at a taxi driver before bilking the payment owed with a number of theft and violent crimes relating to several incidents in early 2023.

Jason Turner, 39, was arrested in Madeira Place on Thursday 9 February, following a report of him running from a taxi and threatening the driver with a knife.

Following his arrest for making off without payment and possession of an offensive weapon, Turner was further arrested and charged with five counts of burglary, robbery, theft from a shop and causing actual bodily harm.

The charges relate to thefts from a store in Boundary Road, Hove, on 16 January; a pub in York Place, Brighton, on 24 January; a second pub in Marine Parade, Brighton, on 26 January; the Sea Life Centre in Marine Parade, on 26 January and a restaurant in Gloucester Street, Brighton, on 8 February.

Turner has been remanded in custody, pending a trial on 10 March at a court to be confirmed.