Police appeal after taxi driver robbed

The robbery took place around 4am when three men flagged down the silver Vauxhall Vectra taxi outside the bus station in Bacup Road and asked the 34-year-old driver to take them to Bacup town centre.

A fare was agreed and the men gave a mobile phone as a deposit, saying they would pay the rest on arrival.

During the journey the men became aggressive towards the taxi driver and demanded their phone back, pulling the hand-brake and making the taxi stop.

The front passenger took £40 in cash from the driver’s hand before all three offenders got out of the taxi.

The driver also got out and the rear passenger began to pull the taxi light off the top of the taxi while another of the men hit the driver in the face with a belt while demanding their phone back.

The driver has given the men back their phone but was struck again with the buckle of the belt before one of the men has smashed the rear driver’s window using the same buckle.

All three offenders made off down Union Street.

DC Sarah Tucker from Burnley CID said: “Throughout this incident the taxi driver was subjected to racist abuse. He was then attacked and robbed.

“This is a despicable incident and we need the public’s help to catch the men responsible.

“Anyone with information should contact Lancashire Police on 101.”