CCTV appeal after knifepoint robbery on taxi driver in Bournemouth

The victim – a local man aged in his 50s – picked up two men and a woman in his taxi outside Bournemouth train station at around 12.10am on Tuesday 20 September 2016.

The group asked to go to Muscliff Lane, before changing their minds and requesting to go to Pizza Hut on Wimborne Road.

As the taxi went along Wimborne Road, the passengers asked the driver to stop at Miro off-licence on the corner of Wimborne Road and Brassey Road.

The woman remained in the back of the taxi while the two men went into the off-licence. When the pair returned, one of the men attempted to take a carrier bag of beer from someone stood outside the shop. He was unable to get away with the bag and both men got back into the taxi and told the victim to drive.

As they travelled along Wimborne Road the woman asked the driver to go down Lawford Road and pull over.

All three left the taxi and began to walk off toward Castle Lane West. They had left the rear door of the taxi open so the victim got out of the taxi to close it. Both male offenders then returned to the cab and demanded money from the taxi driver. The victim told them he had no money and one of the offenders took the keys from the ignition.

One of the men produced a small knife and lunged at the victim, who managed avoid it. The victim was then able to reach back into the taxi, grab a screwdriver and fend off the attackers, who fled toward Castle Lane West.

The victim was not physically injured in the incident.

Officers immediately attended and a search of the area was carried out with assistance of the dog unit. However, the group was not located.

The first offender is described as white, aged in his mid-20s, around six feet one inch tall and of medium build. He had short brown hair and was wearing a grey matching Adidas tracksuit with three black stripes down the arms and legs. He carried a small blue shoulder bag and a red CEX bag.

The second man is described as white, aged in his mid-20s, five feet seven inches tall and of medium build. He had blond hair and was wearing a grey top with black sleeves, black shoes and carried a black shoulder bag.

The woman is described as white, aged in her mid-20s and of medium build. She also had shoulder-length blonde hair.

Detective Constable Mark Richardson, of Bournemouth CID, said: “This was a frightening attack on a taxi driver and I am appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.

“I am releasing two images of the men we would like to speak to in connection with the offence in the hope that someone can identify them.

“I would also like to speak to the person who was outside the off-licence when the offenders attempted to take his bag.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55160142272. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.