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Posted on the 24th April 2025 in PHTM News
TEENAGE ARMED ROBBER JAILED FOR 30 MONTHS AFTER TARGETING ABERDEEN TAXI DRIVERS
A 19-year-old armed robber who preyed on taxi drivers in Aberdeen has been locked up for two and a half years.
Ellis Gardiner, fuelled by drugs, subjected one driver to a terrifying ordeal, pressing a knife against his face and drawing blood, and later robbed another of £50 while brandishing a screwdriver.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard how Gardiner's crime spree also extended to his own family, with the teenager stealing £80 from his mother during a drug-induced state.
Fiscal depute Emma Petersen detailed the first incident, which occurred around 2:30am on 4 August last year. After being picked up in Aberdeen and taken to Mastrick, Gardiner, finding no one at the destination, directed the driver to various streets before launching his attack.
"As soon as the taxi came to a stop, the accused launched himself towards the complainer, seizing him by the arms and pushing him in to the seat," Ms Petersen told the court.
"The complainer felt blood running down his chin and noticed that the accused had a knife pressed against his face.” Gardiner then demanded the driver's phone, wallet, and car keys. The driver refused to hand over his keys, but Gardiner snatched his wallet and fled.
The second taxi driver was targeted on 19 February this year by Gardiner and an accomplice, Steven Gribble, who was previously jailed for the crime.
The court heard that Gribble demanded £50 from the driver after an unsuccessful ATM visit. While Gribble held a screwdriver, Gardiner chillingly stated: "I’ve got something at your back as well."
Sheriff Graham Buchanan had previously described Gribble's actions as a "disgraceful crime" and sentenced him to two years and eight months.
In court, Gardiner admitted to three counts of assault and robbery.
His defence solicitor, Laura Gracie, explained that her client was battling a severe drug addiction at the time and had "gone completely off the rails," admitting he had smoked crack cocaine before the knifepoint robbery.
"He knows that the impact on both taxi drivers will have been serious," Ms Gracie said, adding, "Mr Gardiner does not try to excuse his behaviour, he just wanted to explain why it happened."
She stated that Gardiner was now drug-free and "motivated to change his life."
However, Sheriff William Summers deemed a custodial sentence unavoidable, telling Gardiner that he had committed "three serious offences, two of which involved attacks on vulnerable taxi drivers."
He added, "The notion that these offences could be dealt with by anything other than a custodial sentence is patently absurd." Sheriff Summers ultimately sentenced Gardiner to a total of 30 months in prison.
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