A woman threatened to stab an Uber driver with a dirty syringe - before telling a 'shocking and disgraceful pack of lies' about him owing her cash for sex. Louise Dean, 43, jumped into the man's stationary vehicle and made 'stabbing motions' at his neck with a needle, demanding he hand over his takings.
The driver managed to escape from the car, before Dean chased him. She then fled with his watch and £30 cash.
When arrested, she falsely claimed the man owed her money following a sexual encounter, which didn't happen. The taxi driver has since given up his job and is undergoing therapy for depression following Dean's lies.
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At Manchester Crown Court, Dean, of Weaste Road, Weaste, Salford, admitted robbery. She was jailed for three years and nine months.
The court heard her nose was bitten off in a 'brutal attack' in 2021. James Worsford, prosecuting, told the court the incident happened at around 2.45am on December 1, 2019.
The driver, he said, was finishing a seven-hour shift in Walkden.
"He was about to collect his final fare when he noticed the defendant's car parked up behind his in the street and then saw her get out and walk towards him," Mr Worsford said.
"She opened the door and got in the victim's stationary vehicle, despite his protestations that he already had a pre-arranged booking and that she had to get out.
"Once in the car, she pulled a syringe and started making stabbing motions towards the victim. The victim noticed that the syringe had a metal tip and was dirty. She threatened to stab him if he did not pay her money.
"The victim managed to get out of his vehicle and initially she remained inside, looking for his earnings. But she then stepped outside the car and started to chase the defendant around the car.
"The victim suffers from restricted mobility due to his asthma and replacement hip and so was quickly caught up by the defendant. During the chase, the victim's watch came loose and dropped to the floor. It was quickly taken by the defendant.
"She began to threaten him again with the syringe and ask for money. The victim volunteered £30 from his wallet, saying that it [was] all he had. The defendant then took it and ran off.
"The victim then got back in his car and actually completed his last fare, which took him to Warrington. But following that he reported the incident to police."
Police called to the scene found Dean's saliva on a tissue left at the scene.
The prosecutor added: ''In interview, she claimed that the victim was no stranger to her and in fact had paid her for sex a number of times in the months prior.
"She said that she approached the defendant to try and retrieve some non-paid fees she was owed from one of their prior engagements. However, this was later proved to be a complete lie, as police found no trace of contact with the victim on her phone.
"[The victim] gave up work immediately after this incident. That night was his last fare as a taxi driver. The false allegations made against him by the defendant only further compounded the effect on him.
"All of this did not help his resulting depression. He has sought help and therapy but his treatment is ongoing."
Dean has five offences on her record, including a conviction for affray in 2018 in which she served an eight-month prison sentence.
Mitigating, Thomas James said: "In 2021 Ms Dean was subject to a brutal attack by another female, who bit her nose off and was left with permanent facial disfigurement.
"Her family situation has collapsed and she is no longer welcome among them. Her estrangement meant she has lived in various hostels and temporary accommodation.
"She is currently taking medication for depression and is diagnosed with anxiety. She has suffered much trauma in her life. She doesn't recall much from the incident that night although she is very upset to hear about what has happened to the victim and feels remorse."
Sentencing Dean, Judge John Potter told her: "You may express remorse now, but in your police interview you told a shocking disgraceful pack of lies designed to further demean your victim.
"That was an appalling lie bluntly adding insult to an earlier injury. Naturally, [the victim] heard the allegations put against him and this lead him into further anguish. He has since had to give up driving after four years on the job. In fact, the fare he took last night proved to be his last.
"The victim's torment only ended at the very last moment when you pleaded guilty. I accept that you live a chaotic lifestyle which would make you vulnerable, but none of this provides any excuse for what you did to [the victim]."
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