Taxi thief facing a spell in prison

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), April 12, 2008

A TAXI jacker is facing jail.

Craig Adams was arrested after he forced a cabbie to get out of his Fiat Scudo.

The 20-year-old, from Manet Gardens, South Shields, has admitted robbery and dangerous driving at Newcastle Crown Court.

He also admitted excess alcohol, no insurance and a driving licence offence.

Prosecutors were given a week to decide if a special hearing should be held to settle whether Adams had been armed with a knife when he attacked cabbie Christopher Coldwell on January 24.

But Judge Tony Lancaster warned him that he would be going to prison anyway.

He remanded him in custody until May 5.

Adams struck in the early hours after Mr Coldwell was called to pick up a passenger on Prince Edward Road. He forced him out of the Fiat taxi before driving off.

Several police cars and the Northumbria Force helicopter gave chase for 10 minutes before Adams stopped.

John Wilkinson, defending, said the robbery happened when Adams was in a disturbed state of mind.

"He has pleaded on the basis he has no defence against robbery and used physical force to eject the driver from the vehicle."