Posted on the 24th September 2026 in PHTM News
NORTH EAST TEENAGER SPARED PRISON AFTER PUNCHING PH DRIVER AND STEALING TAKINGS
A teenager from County Durham who assaulted a private hire driver and stole his earnings during a night-time robbery has avoided an immediate spell behind bars.
The attack took place after the driver accepted a fare through a taxi app on the evening of June 10, arriving at a Middlesbrough address at around 12.41am. Teesside Crown Court heard that as the driver was adding details into the taxi app, 18-year-old Brandon Moloney opened the door and punched him in the cheek, "causing an immediate stinging sensation".
Moloney then grabbed a bag containing the driver's daily takings and fled on foot, leaving the victim in shock and unable to finish his shift.
In a victim impact statement, the driver described feeling intimidated while simply trying to earn an honest living to support his family, adding: "I was in fear for my safety and felt alarmed."
Appearing in court, Moloney, from Bishop Auckland, pleaded guilty to robbery, adding to a criminal record that already included seven previous convictions for 22 offences and had a community order at the time of the latest offence.
His defence barrister explained that the teenager had suffered a "traumatic upbringing", spent time in care, and struggled with a "lack of maturity" and other personal difficulties.
Judge Anthony Dunne sentenced Moloney to 22 months in custody, suspended for two years, alongside a requirement to complete rehabilitation activities and pay £100 in compensation to the victim.
Warning the defendant that he had narrowly avoided jail, Judge Dunne stated: "I'm sure you know, people who rob taxi drivers nearly always go to prison and that could easily happen to you today. But I have decided to take a different course, a different choice."
The judge acknowledged Moloney’s difficult childhood and noted that he had been engaging well with appointments under an existing community order.
Concluding the hearing, the judge gave the teen a final warning: "It's up to you now. This is a chance, please do not waste it."
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