An Aberdeenshire man who robbed a taxi driver at knife-point has been warned he faces jail.
Ross Tappenden appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday and admitted assaulting Brian Bonner on January 22 this year.
Mr Bonner picked Tappenden and another man up from outside the Holiday Inn, Westhill, at around 3.30am.
Fiscal depute Kelly Mitchell said that when the pair got into his car they asked to be taken to an address in Tillydrone, Aberdeen.
Both men got into the back seat of the car, which the court heard Mr Bonner found odd, but he drove them into town.
Miss Mitchell said that when they arrived at the address Mr Bonner asked the pair for a fare of £15. However, she said that the driver then felt Tappenden reach round the back of his seat before brandishing a knife at him.
The court heard that the 36-year-old then demanded Mr Bonner hand over his cash.
Miss Mitchell said; “The accused then said ‘Right mate, this is how it’s going to go. You are going to give me the money or I’m going to stab you’.”
The court heard Mr Bonner gave Tappenden around £40 but he said that wasn’t enough.
Miss Mitchell added: “The accused replied ‘Is that all you have got? Give us the rest or you are getting stabbed.'”
The court heard Mr Bonner then handed over another £80 and the men fled the scene.
The taxi-driver then called the police through his radio and they appeared shortly afterwards.
She said they found the men matching Tappenden’s description walking along Pennan Road, Aberdeen.
When officers approached, Tappenden was spotted dropping something metallic before running away. He was later caught by officers.
Yesterday Sheriff Graeme Napier said it was almost inevitable Tappenden, of Raemoir Avenue, Banchory, was likely to face a custodial sentence.
He deferred sentence on him for background reports to be carried out and remanded him in custody.
