Jail for taxi driver robber

Wade McLean, 22, also had a watch that was stolen from a takeaway delivery driver when he was arrested in July.

Leeds Crown Court heard how McLean and Adam Hemingway, 24, attacked Luke Naylor, 17, during an argument over an unpaid debt on playing fields in Mirfield on June 23 last year.

Richard Gioserano, prosecuting, said Mr Naylor was punched in the face by McLean, Hemingway and a third man, and was left with a fractured jaw.

Mr Naylor has since had to have surgery to insert plates and is now facing root canal work.

On July 3 this year, McLean, Arron Smith, 18, and two others got a taxi from Priestley Square in Birstall, but when they arrived at their destination, Taylor Hall Lane in Mirfield, they refused to pay.

Smith, who was in the back seat, then grabbed the driver around the neck and held him down from behind.

McLean opened the driver’s door and stole his watch, then took the keys out of the ignition and said, “What you gonna do now?” Mr Gioserano said.

McLean took a bag containing around £100 in takings, cigarettes and the driver’s keys. He then threw the keys on the floor as the group ran off.

When arrested on July 19, McLean was found with a watch worth £175 which had been stolen from a takeaway driver two days earlier.

In court on Friday, Timothy Stead, mitigating for McLean, said it was ‘remarkable’ how many times McLean had been in court, but said he wanted to change his ways.

Samuel Andrews, for Smith, said his client had shown remorse, while Richard Canning, for Hemingway, said his client deserved credit for his guilty plea.

McLean, of Westway, London Park Estate, Mirfield, was sentenced to five years in prison for robbery, grievous bodily harm and handling stolen goods.

Smith, of Savile Street, Emley, Huddersfield, was jailed for two years for robbery.

Hemingway, also of Westway, was given a two year prison sentence suspended for two years for grievous bodily harm. He must do 250 hours unpaid work and pay £1,000 compensation.

All three pleaded guilty to the offences at earlier hearings.