Robber targeted Leeds bus driver

A ROBBER who threatened a bus driver at knife-point after taking a legal high and ordering him to hand over takings has been jailed.
Neil Brown.Neil Brown.
Neil Brown.

Neil Brown was sentenced to three years, eight months over the threats he made to the driver of the number 56 bus on Latchmere Drive, Moortown, on April 10 this year.

Leeds Crown Court heard the bus had no passengers at the time of the incident on 9.40pm as the driver was about to return the vehicle to a depot.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Brown approached the bus with his face covered by a scarf and ordered the driver to hand over money.

He then took out a knife and pointed it at him

The driver then started his engine and drove off quickly in a bid to knock Brown off balance.

He fell backwards and then jumped off the bus empty-handed.

The driver then contacted police. Brown and another man, Craig Richardson, were arrested later that evening after being caught trying to steal meat from two Co-op stores.

The pair went into the store on Butcher Hill and filled a basket with £200 worth of meat but were challenged by security staff

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Brown and Richardson left and tried to commit a similar offence 15 minutes later at the store on Spen Lane.

They were arrested at the store and Richardson was found in possession of a knife.

Brown, 28, of Queensway, Yeadon, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, two offences of theft and possession of a bladed article.

Graham Parkin, mitigating, said Brown committed the offences when drunk and had taken a legal high. Mr Parkin said Brown then persuaded Richardson to take part in the offences at the Co-op stores.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Richardson, 29, of Hawkswood Avenue, Leeds, pleaded guilty to two offences of theft and one of possession of a bladed article.

He was made the subject of a 12-month community order and told to do 160 hours unpaid work.

The Recorder of Leeds, judge Peter Collier, QC, said: “Clearly you planned this in your drunken state and it is aggravated by the fact that you took a legal high.”