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Posted on the 18th August 2026 in PHTM News

FALKIRK CABBIE TACKLES ARMED ROBBER AFTER BEING SHOT IN HEAD WITH PELLETS

A brave Falkirk taxi driver foiled an armed robbery and pinned his attacker to the ground despite being shot in the head with a pellet gun during a terrifying late-night ordeal.

The incident, which was captured on dash-cam footage, unfolded after the cabbie collected Gregor Thomson and a friend outside a Chinese restaurant at about 10.30pm on May 5, with the passengers asking to be driven to a local pharmacy while demanding the driver “make it quick”.

When the driver requested a £10 payment upfront, Thomson’s bank card was declined twice before he pulled out what looked like a real dark grey handgun from a bag and threatened: “I am going to shoot you.”

The driver grabbed his phone and car key, jumped out of the vehicle and tried to lock the doors, but Thomson climbed into the front seat. As the driver called the police, Thomson confronted him again and fired the BB gun, hitting the cabbie with projectiles on the cheek and head.

A fierce struggle ensued during which Thomson bit the driver’s left arm and continued to clamp his teeth down until the cabbie punched him in the face.

With the help of passing witnesses who rushed to assist, the driver managed to pin Thomson to the ground until police arrived.

The driver sustained a fractured finger, eye injuries, a bite mark and bruising.

The weapon was found to be a BB gun capable of firing pellets. It was described as an “imitation firearm” but looked real.

Thomson, who has 24 previous convictions including a 2014 attempted murder sentence, pleaded guilty to assault and robbery at the High Court in Glasgow and remains in custody ahead of sentencing on September 23 in Edinburgh.

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