Convicted Manchester robber and female accomplices sentenced to prison

A man and two women, who were all convicted for their roles in the use of an illegal taxi to stage a seven-month robbery spree in Manchester, were, yesterday, handed prison sentences.

They are David Taylor, Lician Chambers and Melissa Martin.

Taylor had been convicted in the Manchester Circuit Court earlier this year on eight counts of robbery with aggravation, while Chambers pleaded guilty to four counts of the same offence.

Chief Justice Bryan Sykes, who presided over the case, yesterday ordered that Taylor serve six years in prison at hard labour for each of the first seven offences and nine years for the remaining charge.

Chambers was sentenced to five years in prison at hard labour for each count.

Their sentences are to be served concurrently.

Martin, who accompanied the two on only one of the robberies, was sentenced to three years in prison at hard labour.

The evidence heard by the court was that starting in December 2017, Taylor used an illegal taxi, with Chambers posing as a passenger, to rob at least eight women of $159,000 and US$530, as well as nine mobile phones and a tablet.

In the first incident on December 14, 2017, a woman alleged that an illegal taxi pulled up beside her as she walked to the New Green round-a-bout in Manchester. The woman told investigators that Taylor, who was the driver, told her to get into vehicle and she complied, believing she was being offered a ride.

However, she said Taylor, along with Chambers, who was in the front passenger seat, drove to a dead end road, pulled a ratchet knife and took her phone and gold chain necklace before allowing her to leave the vehicle.

The pair struck again on February 2, 2018, robbing two women of a total of $10,000 and three mobile phones in Abbey Gardens.

A third robbery took place on the morning of May 9, 2018. The victim was robbed of $137,000 and US$500. She was picked up in a gas station, the court heard, where she had gone to get a cab to go to work, after leaving her car at a repair shop.

The woman told investigators that Taylor, with Chambers aboard in the front passenger seat, drove a short distance from the main road, telling to her that he had to pick up someone. She said he stopped the vehicle and rolled up all the windows and enquired if she had a gun.

After questioning her, he eventually drove to a nearby house, where he pulled a knife and robbed her J$137,000 and US$500.

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