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Posted on the 4th April 2025 in PHTM News
MURTON MAN JAILED FOR FOUR YEARS AFTER TAXI ROBBERY AND HIGH SPEED CHASE
A 25-year-old man from Murton has been sentenced to four years in prison after robbing a taxi driver, racially abusing him, and leading police on a dangerous high-speed chase that ended in a crash.
Niall Duffy used a two-foot-long pole to threaten the taxi driver in the early hours of 8 February, demanding cash and stealing his dashcam before fleeing the scene.
Duffy's actions escalated when he then led police on a chase through Murton, even crashing into the porch and living room of a house, before finally crashing into a fence on a country road.
Despite his attempts to flee on foot, he was apprehended and taken into custody.
At Durham Crown Court, Duffy pleaded guilty to a string of offences, including robbery, possession of an offensive weapon, racially aggravated fear of violence, dangerous driving, and driving while disqualified.
He was sentenced to four years imprisonment and received a seven-year driving ban.
Detective Constable Ash Hagar of Peterlee CID condemned Duffy's actions, stating: "This was extremely traumatic for all the victims in this case, and it has had a significant impact on them."
He added: "Hate crime in any form has no place in our society and we will not tolerate it. We want to send a clear message to anyone who commits these types of offences, that your actions have real consequences, and you will be dealt with robustly.”
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