BIRMINGHAM taxi driver was robbed in May Lane, Wythall, after taking a passenger back to the area. The incident happened to the private hire driver at around 6.50pm last Friday (November 24) when he picked up a man at the Victoria Inn in Runcorn Road, Birmingham. The fare had been booked under the name John and the man, when the car arrived, requested he be taken back May Lane, Wythall.
When they arrived at May Lane, the passenger said he had to go to the flats in Oakwood Road to get the £8 fare, but then disappeared.
When the taxi driver went to look for the man, he found him on a grass verge at the junction of May Lane and Alcester Road. On being asked for the fare, the passenger grabbed the driver’s Nokia mobile phone worth £50 and threatened to assault him.
The taxi driver, fearing for his safety, returned to his vehicle and drove off. As he left he saw the man get into the passenger seat of a green Peugeot 406 parked on the Pack Horse pub car park, which headed along the Alcester Road towards Birmingham.
The robber was white, aged between 35 and 40, around 6ft 3ins tall and of stocky or muscular build. He had blond hair which was short at the sides and longer on top, and a “rugged” complexion. He was wearing a light beige coloured zip-up cardigan, with blue and red bands on the chest.
A North Worcestershire Police spokesperson said the taxi driver was shaken but unhurt in the incident.
“It is believed the passenger is someone who is familiar with the Wythall area, as he directed the driver via back lanes.”
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