YOUTHS high on drink and drugs who stabbed and robbed a taxi driver have been jailed for four years.

Jack Donohue, aged 16 and his 17-year-old friend Otis James Johnson, who both have extensive criminal records, were on licence when they carried out the robbery in the early hours of August 26.

Andrew Mackintosh, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court how victim Clive Meaden, a driver for Magnum taxis, was called to pick up passengers from Kersal Road, Prestwich, at 12.45am by a regular customer named James.

When Mr Meaden arrived, Donohue and Johnson got into the car and asked to be taken to Tesco at Heaton Park.

But on the way they asked the driver to turn into Park View and they both got out.

While Donohue started to walk down a ginnel, Johnson walked round to the driver’s side of the vehicle and asked how much the fare was.

Mr Meaden told him it was £2.60. Johnson initially asked Donohue for the money but then decided to save the cash by not paying.

The teenagers started to walk away, but then Mr Meaden warned them: “I’ve got your number on the screen – there’s no point being barred for £2.”

Mr Mackintosh said Johnson returned to the car, asking to see the number. But after the youth opened the car door, he pulled out a white handled, 10 inch bladed kitchen knife from inside his jacket and held it pointing to the ground.

Johnson demanded: “Give us all your money – give us everything you’ve got.”

Donohue then joined him, warning Mr Meaden, “We are going to stab you up” before reaching through the window and stabbing the terrified taxi driver in the thigh with a knife.

A cash bag containing about £35 was handed over and the teenagers fled, leaving Mr Meaden to drive himself to hospital where he needed two stitches to the wound in his leg.

Shortly afterwards another driver picked the two defendants up at McDonald’s in Bury New Road, Whitefield.

The teenagers’ descriptions had been circulated and so the driver alerted his company and police.

The passengers had asked to go Radcliffe, where police caught them in Lord Street and arrested them after a short chase.

The court heard that Mr Meaden, a taxi driver for 20 years, was “shaken up” by the incident and is now wary and anxious.

“He obviously feels both the physical and psychological effects,” said the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy Clayson.

Johnson, of Kersal Close, Prestwich, and Donohue, of Lord Street, Radcliffe, both pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing knives. Additionally Johnson admitted possessing cannabis.

The court heard that both teenagers were known to the care system and had troubled backgrounds with Johnson appearing before the courts on 25 previous occasions and Donohue 14 times. Both had convictions for violence.

Carolyn Smith, defending Donohue, stressed that the teenager had not intended to harm the taxi driver.

“He maintains that his intention was to scare, not hurt him. He went to stab him between the legs,” she said.

“Whatever he intended, he was, at best, reckless.”

She said that, at the time Donohue, who began taking drugs aged 12, was under the influence of cocaine and alcohol and had been carrying the knife for protection.

Stuart Duke, defending Johnson, added that the drinking and drug taking the youths had been doing that night was a “recipe for disaster.” “He issues an apology and says he is disgusted with himself,” he added.

Judge Clayson sentenced the youths, who appeared in court via a video link from Wetherby Young Offenders’ Institution, each to four years’ detention. “A significant custodial sentence must be passed here,” said the judge.