Gang jailed for 16 years after taxi was stolen and torched
THREE men involved in knifepoint taxi robberies in Rossendale have been jailed for more than 16 years.
Christian Niven and Elliot Boothman attacked a driver before stealing his taxi. It was later torched causing a ‘traumatised’ young family to flee their home, a court heard.
In a separate incident 13 days earlier Boothman and co-defendant Jacob Christopherson robbed another cabbie.
Prosecutor David Clarke told the court the first robbery involving victim Yasser Javid was in the early hours of January 20.
Preston Crown Court heard how Mr Javid picked up Boothman and Christopherson in Rawtenstall before taking them to Accrington.
Mr Clarke said front seat passenger Boothman was ‘acting weird and making odd comments’ including saying to Mr Javid ‘ You can stab me, he can stab me’.
When they arrived at a takeaway Mr Javid saw Boothman was holding a ‘large eight-inch kitchen knife’ and the defendant shouted ‘get out of the car, I will kill you’.
The court heard that Mr Javid was ‘in fear of his own life’ and when Boothman ‘ pushed the knife towards him’ it made contact with his torso but caused no injury.
Mr Clarke said the victim tried to grab the car keys and knife, but Boothman pushed him away and he fell back into the road.
The taxi was driven away by Boothman, but was spotted on a petrol station forecourt in Burnley three hours later by police who arrested both defendants.
The court heard how officers found a Snapchat video taken at 3.18am which showed Boothman driving the stolen vehicle away from the scene.
Christopherson could be heard shouting ‘we just robbed a taxi’ before one of the defendants shouted a racial remark.
In a victim statement, Mr Javid said he is now anxious and scared, particularly when working at weekends, and has reduced his working hours.
Boothman and Christopherson were released under investigation but were then involved in another knifepoint robbery on February 2.
Mr Clarke said Niven and Boothman got into Parvez Akhar’s taxi on Bury Road, Rawtenstall and Niven ‘immediately leant over and swore’ at the driver.
The court heard Mr Akhar saw front seat passenger Niven was holding a knife and tried to grab the blade, but cut four of his fingers.
Back seat passenger Boothman then grabbed hold of Mr Akhar and punched him to the shoulder while Niven punched him to the body and face.
When the victim fled the taxi Niven reversed it at speed into a wall. Christopherson then got in, before it was driven away at speed. The incident was captured on a dashboard camera.
Mr Clarke said 90 minutes later the stolen taxi was set on fire outside Balladen Community primary school. However, it ‘rolled back’ onto a wall near a house occupied by a couple and their children.
The court heard that the ‘traumatised’ family were awoken by loud banging and saw an ‘orange glow’ outside. They fled the house through a back door.
Richard Orme, defending Niven, said the arson was ‘an attempt to conceal forensic evidence’ and that the vehicle rolling back to the house was an ‘unintended consequence’.
The barrister said Niven banged on the door to alert the householder to the danger. He said: “It’s clear that alcohol has been the downfall catalyst in this defendant’s chaotic lifestyle. He has anger management problems and he wants to address this.”
Ricky Holland, defending Boothman, said there is an ‘element of thrill seeking’ to the offences which is ‘troubling’.
He said his client was also ‘attracted to drugs and alcohol’ and has now ‘found himself in the depths of despair’.
Hugh Barton, defending Christopherson, said his client has led a ‘transient and rather isolated life’ and moved to Rossendale in January to ‘remove him from negative influences’.
He said: “He began associating with these codefendants who are significantly older and more heavily convicted. He does take responsibility for his actions. There is genuine remorse. These are grave offences but he played a lesser role. He is a particularly vulnerable and impressionable young man.”
Judge David Potter said Boothman used a ‘fearsome weapon’ when robbing Mr Javid and described the attack on Mr Akhar as a ‘frightening experience’.
Niven, 29, of Sandfield Road, Bacup, pleaded guilty to robbery, arson and threatening another with a bladed article. He was jailed for 56 months.
Christopherson, 18, of Carr Mount, Rawtenstall, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and one count of arson and was sent to a young offenders institute for 53 months.
Boothman, 24, of Linden Lea, Rawtenstall, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and one count each of driving while disqualified and with no insurance. He was jailed for seven years.