Colchester taxi driver attack: How police caught Jack Powell

Jack Powell, 19, was seen dragging taxi driver Nurul Islam from the driver’s side of his car in Tower Mill Road, Ipswich, in the early hours of Sunday, November 7, last year.

When a member of the public went outside to investigate, Powell threw a mobile phone at him and fled in the direction of Bramford Road.

Officers arrived at the scene within matter of minutes and found the victim face down in the road and bleeding - having suffered significant head and facial injuries.

Meanwhile, other officers began searching the area for a suspect and after driving up and down a number of nearby streets, they found and arrested Powell just after 4am in Wallace Road.

Powell made immediate admissions to the arresting officer and was found with cash he had stolen from his victim, who had driven him from Colchester to Ipswich.

The taxi rank in Colchester High Street, where Powell began his journey

The 40-year-old Mr Islam sustained a fractured skull and other facial fractures, along with swelling to the brain.

He spent almost a month in Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where he was unconscious for a week and had to undergo multiple surgeries.

After admitting charges of robbery and causing grievous bodily harm with intent, Powell, of Lattice Avenue, Ipswich, was sentenced to four years and two months in a young offender institution at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday.

READ MORE: Teen jailed after beating and robbing taxi driver before 'leaving him for dead'

Detective Constable Damian Richer, of Suffolk Constabulary’s South CID, said: “This was a truly shocking display of violence and but for the intervention of a member of the public, the outcome could have been even worse than it already was.

“The quick response of the officers who were first on scene - in both ensuring the victim got urgent medical assistance and in locating the suspect and securing evidence - was crucial, as was the use of the arresting officer’s body-worn video in capturing the initial admissions made by Powell.”

Jack Powell

Summarising the investigation which led to Powell’s guilty pleas in court, DC Richer said the probe involved “forensic seizures, photos of scenes and work with the victim”.

"The hard work of the attending officers and then the CID officers who took the case forward, all contributed to a guilty plea being secured at an early stage," he said.

“Having seen the injury photos from the evening and then meeting the victim in hospital three weeks later, I was amazed at the progress he had made.

“It was a testament to both his sheer determination to pull through for his wife and children and as a result of the excellent medical care he received.”

READ MORE: Taxi driver who was attacked returns home to recover as community raises thousands

He added: “The victim has spoken of the far-reaching consequences of this attack - the impact on his family and of the fact he is unlikely to ever return to his old job.

“His injuries were so severe, that when he finally returned home after a month in hospital his children did not recognise him. Unsurprisingly he has been left traumatised by the attack and suffers with flashbacks.

“In the space of a few minutes on that Sunday morning a young man devastated the life of the victim and the victim’s family, along with his own life, in what was an alcohol-fuelled, unprovoked, cowardly and senseless act of aggression.

“At least Jack Powell pleaded guilty and spared the victim and his family the further trauma of a trial.

"I hope he uses the time that he is locked away to reflect on the impact of what he did, how a man out doing his job was beaten unconscious for no reason, and how life-changing taking that final fare of the night was for him and his family.”