Worksop dad jailed for gun toting taxi robbery

Adam Revill, 20, of Lincoln Street, Worksop, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court today (Friday 1st March 2013).

He had previously admitted robbing taxi driver Claudiu Petre on 23rd January.

Revill sobbed in the dock as the court heard how he had called Town Taxis to an address in Netherton Road, Worksop, using his own mobile phone.

“The defendant was waiting outside on the steps which the taxi driver thought was strange as it was a snowy night,” said Paul Stimpson, prosecuting.

“He was not disguised but was wearing a deerstalker hat. As he approached the taxi and opened the door Mr Petre immediately saw he had a pistol in his hand.”

The court heard how Revill demanded money from the driver, but did not seem ‘confident or convincing’.

“Mr Petre handed him a £5 note then bravely decided to make a grab for the weapon, pulling it towards him,” said Mr Stimpson.

But Revill carried on demanding more cash. Mr Petre gave him more notes before Revill shouted: “Alright. Go, go.”

The driver later described to police how he had felt ‘frightened’ and ‘shaken up’.

When the police arrived to question Revill he owned up to what he had done and apologised, telling them exactly where he had thrown the gun into the snow.

It was described as a toy BB gun which was not loaded with pellets or a gas cartridge.

In mitigation, the court heard that Revill had been driven to commit the robbery to pay for an escalating drug habit.

“The total amount taken was £20. That was enough for him to get his next fix,” said Michael Evans, defending.

He described how Revill had begun taking crack cocaine to cope with the sudden and tragic death of his sister last year, to whom he was very close.

The judge was also handed letters from Revill’s father, Arthur, and his employer Adam Cowley, emphasising his good nature.

Arthur Revill described his son as a ‘gentle’ and ‘shy’ young man.

While Mr Cowley, who had employed Revill for two years at his railway maintenance business near Thorpe Salvin, said he was a hardworking and trustworthy man.

Mr Cowley said Revill had been ‘shy’ and ‘introverted’ when he first started the job, but that he had seen potential in him and been impressed by his work ethic.

And the father-of-two had recently been promoted to supervisor position.

“I had no hesitation in trusting him whatsoever,” said Mr Cowley.

“I would have given him the money if he had asked me.”

“The fact he has gone out and taken something from a working man goes against everything he stands for.”

Mr Evans added that the robbery had not been premeditated and was ‘out of character’.

Sentencing Revill to 14 months in a young offenders institution, Judge Jeremy Lea said he had stepped back from a longer prison term because of what he had heard.

“I’m not without sympathy for your situation and for the background which led you to commit the offence,” said Judge Lea.

“But you robbed a taxi driver. That was not spur of the moment in the sense that you called him to your address - it was planned to that extent.”

“The chances of you being caught were rather high and indeed when the police arrived you were very frank about what you had done.”