A teenager who punched and robbed a private hire driver during an early-hours confrontation has been sent to a young offender institution for 20 months.

Judge James Spencer QC told 18-year-old Kevin Haley that the attack on Asif Javed in Brocklesby Drive, Allerton, was a wicked offence.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday how Mr Javed had been returning home four months ago when he saw Haley knocking on a neighbour’s door.

After Haley asked the cabbie what he was looking at he punched Mr Javed in the face. Haley, of Allerton Grange Drive, Allerton, then demanded money from Mr Javed, who handed over £60.

Mr Javed was punched again before Haley fled the scene, but he was recognised by a local resident and the complainant picked him out during identification procedures following his arrest.

Judge Spencer said Haley had told “a pack of lies” when he was interviewed by the police and he noted that the teenager had a very bad record.

Haley, who pleaded guilty to robbery, was already subject to a community sentence at the time he committed the offence. Barrister Abdul Iqbal conceded that his client had an unenviable record, but pointed out that there was no previous offences of robbery.

Haley has already served 104 days on remand and he is expected to be released from custody after serving half his sentence.

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/3776876.Teenager_locked_up_for_attack_on_cabbie/

As a licensed taxi driver in the Capital you must have a detailed knowledge of roads and places of interest in London - known as the Knowledge.

How long it takes to become a licensed taxi driver depends on whether you want to be an All London driver or a Suburban driver.

London or the suburbs?

All London drivers, also known as Green Badge drivers, need a detailed knowledge of London within a six mile radius of Charing Cross.

Initially there are 320 routes or runs to learn, along with all the places of interest and important landmarks on and around these runs.

It takes between two to four years to learn and pass the All London Knowledge. Once you are licensed you can work anywhere in the Greater London area.

Suburban

Suburban drivers, or Yellow Badge drivers, need to choose from one of the nine suburban sectors and know between 30 and 51 runs in detail, depending on their chosen sector, and all places of interest and important landmarks on those runs.

It takes around two years to become a licensed Suburban taxi driver. Once qualified you can only work in the sector you are licensed for.

You can find out more about the two types of licence available on the Licence types page. 

Knowledge makes your brain grow

The brain will grow as you learn and put into practice the Knowledge, says research by the Wellcome Department of Imaging Neuroscience.

On scanning the brains of 16 London taxi drivers, who had spent an average of two years learning the Knowledge, they found they had a larger right hippocampus than control subjects.

Find out more on the study on the Wellcome Trust website.

See also: http://www.londontaxiknowledge.co.uk