Two charged as taxi passengers steal cab after being asked to pay fare in Nottingham

Detectives investigating after a taxi was stolen from its driver during a robbery have charged two suspects.

Officers were called to Lower Parliament Street, in Nottingham city centre, at around 11pm on Thursday 5 October following reports the victim had been attacked after dropping off two people.

When he asked for payment, the taxi driver was forced out of the vehicle and assaulted before his vehicle was driven away.

The vehicle was involved in a collision with another taxi a short time later.

Officers from the force’s Road Crime Team later tracked down the taxi in Clifton and arrested a man and a woman.

Officers suspected one occupant of the vehicle was intoxicated and also found a bag of white powder when undertaking a search.

Jake Sutherland, aged 28, has been charged with robbery. Twenty-seven-year-old Lizzie Smith has been charged with robbery, failing to provide a specimen for analysis, failing to stop after a road accident, driving without due care and attention and driving without a licence or insurance.

Both appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 7 October and will next appear at Nottingham Crown Court on 6 November 2023.

Detective Inspector Julian Eminson-Ferry, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We have a team of detectives working around the clock investigating robberies because we understand the impact incidents of this nature can have on victims.

“I hope members of the public are reassured by our robust response to this incident, which has seen two suspects placed before the courts at the earliest opportunity.”