ROBBERS lured a taxi driver into a trap by ordering a cab in the early hours of the morning on a housing estate.

On arrival at the address, the 34-year-old cabbie was struck over the head with a wooden hammer shaft by the would-be passenger, dragged from his car and beaten with a golf club.

The victim briefly blacked out and came round to find the car had been taken by his assailants.

Durham Crown Court heard that it was found abandoned with the engine running after becoming stuck in mud on a roadside grass verge, nearby, minus about £180 in takings.

The driver managed to ring police on his mobile phone and was treated in hospital for what at first was feared to be a fractured skull.

He suffered scalp wounds, a fractured nose, a black eye and heavy bruising.

The court also heard that he has given up his job after nine years as a taxi driver and is fearful of going out unaccompanied.

Peter Makepeace, prosecuting, said up to three men were involved in the attack, which took place on Darlington's Skerne Park estate, in March. Police went to the home of 22-year-old Zac Simpson two days later and recovered a pair of tracksuit bottoms, which forensic analysis revealed carried the victim's blood stains.

Simpson went to the police station later that day to recover his clothing and was arrested, but made no reply when questioned.

Aisha Wadoudi, mitigating, said Simpson, a warehouse worker from Severn Way, Darlington, admitted being involved in the attack, but said he was not responsible for the violence inflicted.

Miss Wadoudi said Simpson had a crack cocaine habit at the time, but said that was now not the case.

Jailing Simpson for four years, Judge Richard Lowden said: "You took part in a pre-meditated attack on a taxi driver in the middle of the night, and your companions had weapons.

"The taxi driver was left with severe and lasting injuries, and although you did not actually hit him, you were part of the plan to take this money from the driver."