Man who assaulted a taxi driver before threatening police with a knife sentenced to jail

Image credit: Dorset Police

A man has been jailed for a total of two years and ten months after threatening police officers with a knife following an incident where he stole money from a taxi driver in Bournemouth.

James Anthony Taylor, 36, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Wednesday 7 April after previously admitting affray, theft, causing racially or religiously aggravated fear or provocation of violence by words or writing and criminal damage.

At around 7.30pm on Tuesday 27 October 2020 Dorset Police were called to a report of a taxi alarm activation at the junction of Pembroke Road and Alumhurst Road.

Officers attended and spoke to the taxi driver – a man aged in his 50s from Poole – who said that he had been assaulted by a customer he had picked up.

Taylor had grabbed the victim’s phone and shouted racially aggravated abuse at him, before making threats to assault him.

The journey ended at Pembroke Road where Taylor got out of the car and took the mobile phone with him.

The victim got out and asked for his phone back, but was told by Taylor to give him £40 in exchange, which he did. Taylor took the money and continued to walk away with the phone. The victim managed to take the phone from Taylor, but he never reclaimed the money. During the incident, Taylor pushed the victim causing him to fall to the floor.

Officers approached the address that Taylor entered shortly after the incident and attempted to detain him. The defendant stated that he was going to stab the officers and was holding a knife. Also, damage was caused to the property by Taylor.

Armed response officers subsequently attended the address and Taylor was arrested in connection with the incident.

At the hearing, Taylor was also sentenced in relation to other incidents after admitting assault by beating, making off without making payment, breach of conditional discharge, failing to surrender, three counts of criminal damage and two counts of theft.

Police Constable Liam Moss, of Dorset Police’s Priority Crime Team, said: “I am pleased that through our investigations Taylor was charged and brought before the court in relation to these offences.

“I would like to praise the officers who first attended the scene for the bravery they showed when faced with a difficult situation.

“This was also a terrifying incident for the taxi driver involved as he was just carrying out his job.

“Nobody deserves to be subjected to such abuse and I am glad Taylor has been brought to justice.”