Thomas Patrick Mooney planned to kidnap the taxi driver and tie him up with electrical cable
A MAN armed with a machete, kitchen knife and lengths of electrical cable tried to kidnap a taxi driver, a court has heard. Thomas Patrick Mooney planned to tie up the cabbie and put him in the boot of his own car.
Swansea Crown Court heard that Thomas Patrick Mooney flagged down a cab near Aberystwyth train station in the early hours of October 13 and asked the driver to take him to the village of Rhydyfelin.
But when the taxi arrived at its destination Mooney, who was sat in the back seat, produced a large kitchen knife.
Jim Davies, for the prosecution, said the terrified cabbie fled from the vehicle - leaving the engine running and a cash bag containing his takings of some £300 behind - and hid in a nearby garden. Mooney then drove away in the Ford Focus.
The court heard that armed police officers were dispatched to hunt for Mooney, and he was found some 25 miles away. When he was searched he was found to be in possession of two knives, a machete, and lengths of electrical cable, included "nooses" of cable worn around his neck. A subsequent breath test showed he had 57 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.
He told police that he planned to kidnap the taxi driver, put him the boot of his car, and drive him to Newtown in Powys where he would let him go.
READ MORE: Prisoner with two days left on sentence set fire to his cell because he couldn't watch TV
Mooney, aged 29, of Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, had previously pleaded guilty to attempted kidnap, possessing three knives in a public place, driving with excess alcohol and driving while disqualified when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.
Catherine Richard, for Mooney, said her client was genuinely remorseful for what he had done, and said that on the day in question he had been "intent on his self-destruction".
The court heard he was suffering from a "transient adjustment disorder" brought about by his inability to cope with the break-down of his marriage.
Judge Paul Thomas said the incident had had a "profound psychological impact" on its victim, and he jailed Mooney for three years.
Read more: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Jail-man-armed-machete-planned-kidnap-taxi-driver/story-28630525-detail/story.html#ixzz3yf79r8Lz
Follow us: @SWEveningPost on Twitter | SWEveningPost on Facebook
No comments:
Post a Comment