Thug who attacked taxi driver led police straight to £24,000 drug stash

A bungling thug who shattered a cabbie's jaw in two places before going on the run - led the police straight to his £24,000 cannabis stash.
Cab Driver William Wade was attacked by a passengerCab Driver William Wade was attacked by a passenger
Cab Driver William Wade was attacked by a passenger

Stuart Snape, 30, from Hern Avenue, Lostock Hall, has now been jailed for 40 months after admitting wounding, producing cannabis and abstracting £1,650 electricity.

And the hapless criminal’s victim 45-year-old William Wade, from Bamber Bridge, says he hasn’t worked a Saturday night since the March attack and needs ongoing treatment for his shocking injury.

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“I’m glad that he’s in jail now and it’s a little bit of closure,” said William who works with Miller’s taxis in Preston. “He wrote a letter of apology which the police gave to me but no sentence is long enough, I needed him behind bars.

Stuart Snape, 30, of Hern Avenue, Lostock Hall, was jailed for 40 months after admitting wounding, producing cannabis and abstracting £1,650 electricity.Stuart Snape, 30, of Hern Avenue, Lostock Hall, was jailed for 40 months after admitting wounding, producing cannabis and abstracting £1,650 electricity.
Stuart Snape, 30, of Hern Avenue, Lostock Hall, was jailed for 40 months after admitting wounding, producing cannabis and abstracting £1,650 electricity.

“I’ve been trying to get back to working Saturday nights but I had a panic attack the first time I tried.

“I was hoping to go back last Saturday but it was an England game and the night I got attacked England were also playing - it seems silly but it just makes me think ‘what if’.”

Preston Crown Court heard, that on March 26 William collected a man from an address on Conniston Drive, Walton-le-Dale to go Lostock Hall at 9.10pm.

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“He was drunk and I just about worked out he wanted to go to Lostock Hall, but on Brownedge Road he had to get out to be sick,” William said. “I didn’t want to take him any further so I asked for the £3.70 but he refused and said I’d nicked his phone.

Cabbie William Wade, 45, from Bamber Bridge, was punched by a passenger.Cabbie William Wade, 45, from Bamber Bridge, was punched by a passenger.
Cabbie William Wade, 45, from Bamber Bridge, was punched by a passenger.

“Next thing I know he’s hit me and ran off.”

Police found the drug growers two mobile phones close to where he had been sick.

And when officers tracked Snape down at his home four days later, they stumbled upon his £24,000 cannabis farm growing in his loft with 30 plants, weighing 1,200 grams.

They also discovered Snape had bypassed the electricity meter, abstracting £1,650.

Cannabis farm found at found at Stuart Snape's home on Hern Avenue, Lostock Hall.Cannabis farm found at found at Stuart Snape's home on Hern Avenue, Lostock Hall.
Cannabis farm found at found at Stuart Snape's home on Hern Avenue, Lostock Hall.
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But despite Snape being behind bars, William admits the ongoing treatment has knocked his confidence and says he’s had to “learn to talk again” before going back to work.

“My jaw’s had to be broken and re-set and although I’ve had treatment I’m still getting constant toothache and slurring my words,” he said. “The last six or seven months have been a nightmare and I’ve been giving up my Saturday and Sunday days to make up the money of not working nights.

“My 20-year-old son doesn’t want me to work nights any more but now he’s gone to jail I’ll hopefully start to get back to normal.”

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