Coventry burglars jailed after ‘harrowing’ taxi hijacking and knife attack
- Perry Richardson
- 15 hours ago
- 2 min read
Two men have been jailed after a series of burglaries in Coventry culminated in the hijacking of a taxi and a knife attack on a resident. The offences, committed in October and November last year, included the theft of vehicles and break-ins at homes across the city.
Ian Giles, 51, and Jason Dalton, 37, were sentenced at Warwick Crown Court on 6 February. Giles was jailed for six years and nine months, while Dalton received four years and six months. Both had been charged with burglary, blackmail, possession of a knife and assault by beating.
The case included the hijacking of a taxi travelling from Leicester to Coventry. On the night of the offence, the vehicle was struck by an object thrown by one of the defendants. When the driver stopped, the pair approached and threatened him, saying “do you want to lose your life?” before demanding to be driven to an address in Canley.
They entered the vehicle and repeatedly threatened the driver and passengers, warning they would be stabbed if their demands were not met. The incident took place less than 30 minutes after the pair had committed a burglary nearby in the south west of the city.
Two men who threatened a taxi driver and stabbed a householder during a burglary spree across Coventry have been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison combined
During that earlier offence, the men entered a property searching for money and car keys. When challenged by an occupant, they stabbed him in the hand before fleeing. Police said the attack targeted residents in their own homes, including vulnerable individuals.
The two were arrested after being identified on CCTV removing clothing from a clothes bank. An investigation led by Coventry Local Policing Area linked them to the earlier burglaries and the taxi incident.
Officers said Giles was aggressive while in custody, threatening to smash interviewers’ laptops and insulting victims connected to one of the offences.
Detective Sergeant Jay Aston, from Coventry CID, said: "These are serious offences which were harrowing for their victims.
"Fortunately the victim of the burglary only suffered superficial injuries but both Dalton and Giles' demeanour was unpredictable and erratic throughout.
"I'd like to commend the bravery of the burglary victims as well as the taxi driver they targeted, and I hope they feel justice has been done.
"Our team of investigators worked tirelessly to secure charged against these two on the day they were arrested and I'm grateful for their hard work and dedication.
"These offences will not be tolerated and I hope Jason Dalton and Ian Giles will reflect on their behaviour while behind bars."
