12/01/2005

Taxi driver 'garrotted' during Cambridgeshire robbery

Cambridgeshire police have today appealed for information after a taxi driver escaped with light injuries when two men attempted to garrotte him with a length of cheesewire.

The incident occurred during a robbery on Saturday January 8 on the Hasse Road, Soham.

The 31-year-old man from Wisbech was driving his taxi near the Village Hall in Witchford at around 8.15pm when he was flagged down by two men.

One man got in the front of the taxi while the other man sat in the back. As the man was driving along Northfield Road in Soham, the men asked him to pull over.

The driver pulled over on Northfield Road close to Hasse Road, at which point an altercation occurred between the driver and the man in the front of then taxi.

The man in the back of the taxi then put what has been described as cheesewire around the driver's neck, who struggled and managed to free himself. The two men then left the car with the front passenger taking a small amount of change from the driver.

The man who sat in the front of the taxi is described as middle eastern, around 5' 7", and of slim build. He spoke in broken English and was wearing green khaki trousers and a dark lightweight summer jacket.

The second man, who sat in the back of the taxi, is described as middle eastern, around 5' 10" and stocky. He was wearing dark clothing and spoke in a foreign language.

DC Jerry Bean, who is investigating the incident, said: "This was a particularly nasty incident and I am appealing for the public's help in tracing these men.

"Firstly, I would like to hear from anyone who was in the Witchford area at around 8.15pm and saw these men. Secondly, I would appeal to anyone in the Hasse Road area who saw either the incident or the men.

"Any information, no matter how small, could prove vital in tracing these men."

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Bean at Ely Police Station on 0845 456 4564 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

(GB)

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