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Taxi driver restrained and punched in brutal mobile phone robbery as two Lincoln men are jailed
- Perry Richardson
- 2 hours ago
- 1 min read
Two Lincoln men have been jailed for more than three years each after robbing a taxi driver of his mobile phone.
Liam O’Leary, 46, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.
Shane McHale, 23, received a sentence of three years and two months.
The pair appeared at Lincoln Crown Court for sentencing on 18 August after pleading guilty to the robbery, which took place on 31 March 2026.
Lincolnshire Police said officers were alerted by a member of the public who witnessed what appeared to be an attack on the taxi driver inside his vehicle on Dixon Street.
The driver was restrained and punched to the head, causing him to bleed. O’Leary and McHale then ran from the scene with the driver’s mobile phone.
Officers tracked the stolen device and reviewed CCTV footage as part of the investigation. Police subsequently found both men inside O’Leary’s nearby flat, where the victim’s phone was also recovered.
The rapid arrests highlight the value of witnesses reporting suspected attacks on taxi and private hire drivers, who can be particularly vulnerable when working alone and carrying passengers in confined spaces.
Lincolnshire Police credited the reporting witness, the victim and members of the community with helping officers secure the convictions.
A Lincolnshire Police statement said: “This efficient and effective investigation was made possible with the support of community members, the reporting witness, and the victim in this case, and we would like to extend our gratitude for their cooperation and bravery.”
