Man Jailed For Stabbing Taxi Driver

14 December 2010, 07:57 | Updated: 15 December 2010, 06:54

A man who stabbed a Great Yarmouth taxi driver as he tried to rob him of money has been jailed for eight years.

31-year-old Scott Chesney from Grove Cottages, off Nelson Road Central, in Great Yarmouth, appeared at Norwich Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, December 10, after pleading guilty to attempted robbery at an earlier hearing. He pleaded not guilty to possessing a knife.

The charge related to an incident which happened in the town on Friday, September 10, when Chesney got a taxi from the seafront to Dorset Close.

As the taxi arrived at Dorset Close Chesney threatened the driver for money before stabbing him in the back. The vehicle rolled to a stop hitting a parked car on the roadside and the taxi driver, in his 40s, got out of the car but was attacked again and slashed on the arm suffering a 15cm cut which required 12 stitches.

Having fled the scene empty handed Chesney was arrested by police the following day and charged with attempted robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.

Chesney was convicted of both offences and jailed for eight years.

The taxi driver suffered serious cuts on his back and arm as a result of the attack which required hospital treatment.

Det Sgt Chris Burgess, from Great Yarmouth CID, said: "This was a violent attack which caused a lot of stress to the victim and his family. The eight-year sentence reflects the severity of this offence and should act as a deterrent to others considering carrying out such crimes."