A man has been jailed after robbing a taxi driver at knifepoint in Stockton. Ben Earl, 36, ordered a taxi in January 2022 but when he was asked for the £7 fare held a knife to the neck of the victim and sprayed him in the face with an unknown liquid. The 36-year-old forced the victim to hand over a bag with his change in and then stole £150 from his pocket before making off from the scene.
The victim attended hospital for treatment to his eyes and a cut to his hand and was left extremely shaken by the incident. Earl was arrested and subsequently charged by Stockton CID with robbery and possession of an offensive weapon. He pleaded guilty to both charges on 28th February.
He was also sentenced for a series of drug offences which occurred in February this year. Officers from Stockton’s Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) stopped a suspicious vehicle on Rosslare Road in Stockton and recovered a significant amount of Class A drugs, cash and a lock knife. Following a joint effort by Stockton NPT and CID, Earl was arrested and subsequently charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, possession of criminal property and possession of a bladed article.
He pleaded guilty to all charges on 11th March. Don't miss out on the latest news and stories. Subscribe to the Northern Echo, click here Most read Beautiful former vicarage in Durham for sale for £1.
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