Intoxicated man threatened to stab taxi driver and kill family

A TAXI driver was told he would be killed and “buried” by a knife-wielding thug who also threatened to kill his family.

- By NAOMI CORRIGAN

Wakahs Nawaz turned on the driver on May 3 this year.

He punched the terrified cabbie in the head and produced a knife, threatening to stab him.

Nawaz was handed an extended jail sentence of six years at Teesside Crown Court for the offences which left the driver fearing for the safety of his family.

A judge told Nawaz she considered him “a real and serious risk” of similar offending.

Rachel Butt, prosecuting, told the court how the driver was called to a job to collect Nawaz from the Longlands Hotel on Marton Road at 2.45am. The intended destination was Linthorpe Road.

While intoxicated on drink or drugs, the court heard Nawaz got into the front seat and an unknown man got into the back.

The taxi driver recognised Nawaz as a former resident on his street.

“The defendant spoke with him in a conversational tone referring to him as ‘uncle’ as well as referring to the family,” said Ms Butt.

Nawaz said he wanted to go to Linthorpe Road, then Carlow Street and back to the hotel but had no money and wanted to stop at a cash machine.