Teen jailed over knife attack on taxi driver

Gavin Luke Simpson, 18, admitted attacking Ronald Williams following a taxi journey, after a night out in Durham city centre, on January 10.

On reaching an address in Ludworth, near Durham, where he was staying with a workmate, Simpson asked the driver to wait while he went for money for a tip.

Durham Crown Court heard that he returned minutes later and "lunged" at Williams, holding a knife to his neck.

A scuffle followed in which the driver tried unsuccessfully to grab the knife, before he was forced to hand over more than £150 takings.

He managed to drive off, despite losing his glasses in the scuffle, and raised the alarm on reaching nearby Shadforth.

The 55-year-old driver was taken to hospital suffering hand, arm and facial injuries, including a palm laceration which required four stitches.

He also needed two stitches for a wound to his bicep, while he also lost skin from the tip of his index finger.

Christopher Knox, prosecuting, said when police reached the house, in Barnard Avenue, Simpson was "reluctant" to hand himself over, making threatening gestures at the officers with the knife.

It was eventually taken from him by the male householder before Simpson gave himself up, said Mr Knox.

Simpson told police he had been drinking heavily in Durham, including a bottle of champagne after winning on a gaming machine.

But he denied stabbing Mr Williams and said the injuries were caused when he attempted to grab the knife.

Rob Mairs, for Simpson, said he endured a difficult upbringing in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, but has, "an excellent work ethic", and was in the Durham area after finding a job.

Mr Mairs said Simpson was "drowning his sorrows" that night after separating from his partner.

Sending Simpson to a young offenders' institution for two years for the robbery, Recorder Paul Reid said it was a "close thing" that he had not considered him a serious risk to the public, and imposed an indeterminate sentence.