A 25-year-old Cowes man who threatened a taxi driver with a 6-inch kitchen knife after refusing to pay his fare has been handed a 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work.
Billy Haylor, of Newport Road in Cowes, was sentenced at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Friday after Magistrates decided last month that the matter was too serious for them to deal with.
The courts previously heard that Haylor approached a taxi in Newport on the night of 15th April this year and asked to go to Cowes Medical Centre. The fare was agreed and during the journey, the intoxicated 25-year-old fell asleep. Arriving in Cowes, the taxi driver roused Haylor who proceeded to fumble to make payment before then vomiting over the back seats.
The driver made clear that a soiling charge would have to be paid but a small argument ensued, to which Haylor then said ‘f**k it’ and ran off.
Keen to ensure he received his fare, the taxi driver followed Haylor to a nearby address. Whilst on the phone to Police, Haylor made threats to kill the taxi driver before then stepping foot outside his home and into his garden with a large kitchen knife. The taxi driver was advised to get back into his vehicle by Police.
Haylor shouted:
“I’m going to cut you up. I’ll find your family and cut them up too”.
The incident landed Billy Haylor in court on 2 charges of making off without payment, 1 of which involved threatening an individual with a knife. He pleaded guilty to both charges on 6th May.
Defending, Oscar Vincent said that the actions of Haylor, a tiler, were out of character and came after a barrage of negative impacts on his life. Mr Vincent said that Haylor was unable to properly explain his behaviour.
Magistrates sent the case up to the Crown Court where Haylor received a 12-month community order with 10 rehabilitation days and 120 hours of unpaid work attached. He was also ordered to pay £425 costs and £80 compensation.
Should have been a jail term. What an example to give to society that you can pick up a knife and just get a few hours unpaid work, which most people do as volunteers anyway.
Also what a mockery it makes of knife amnesty’s when every house has a drawer full.
They need to make sentences for carrying a knife or gun with intent minimum three years, not try to remove guns and knives from the street which is impossible but cheap PR stunt.
Except the fact this guy never left his property while in possession of the knife?
Anyone who pulls a knife on someone else with real intent to use such deserves to be jailed.
The fact that he was in his landlords garden makes little difference to the severity of his intended action.
It can be a very dangerous job to be a taxi driver, a lot of the public along with the licencesing departments have little or no sympathy for taxi driver…
A minimum of five years should be applied to anyone brandishing a weapon against another person.
This sentence gives no reason not to carry or threaten people with weapons.
The law and order in this country since we have imported those who make knife & gun crime an everyday happening is a disgrace, and likely because so many of those type are filling British prisons we can never again give full meaningful sentences to our own home grown low lives.
And we wonder why the violent crime rates seem to climb month on month! These morons come over here to live with mates knowing they can take drugs, drink, drive, attack and knife anyone they want with absolute impunity! Had our glorious Magistrates and Judges slapped a serious sentence on those who committed violent attacks then we would NOT be in the position of having two towns considered ‘no go areas’, one known for Drug sales and even the quietest villages becoming race tracks! A ridiculous sentence for a very serious crime.
Disgusting sentence judge should be fined and sacked himself for being so lenient sends a message to all folks it’s ok to threaten with a knife all you’ll get is a bit of community service all wrong needs locking up for a long time
One day you little sh*t, youl pick on the wrong person. You wont walk away, and you wont be found.
You tell em soldier !
Absolute scum , jumped up little wanna be, pussy with a blade !
The judge who handed this sentence down should themselves be made to serve a 12 month community order with the trimmings for being so limp wristed with the terms given to this nutter, who clearly needs locking up for a very long time and introducing to the boys in the shower at her majesty’s pleasure.
Why do so many people presume that the mainstream prison population in this country are gay ? Don’t bend over and pick up the soap bla bla bla ?
We are not like America and Hollywood, and neither are we like a British public/private school, or like a Catholic church school. In fact, it is the complete opposite !
If the threat was against a judge, suspect sentence would fit the crime..
Oscar Vincent… get another job
WHY’S that then ?
Because he is good at his job ?
Also a very nice fella.
Least I now know that I can threaten someone with a knife and threaten to kill them and won’t end up in prison