Teenage thug who allegedly held Ilford cabbie hostage appears in court

Zack Turay, 19, and an unknown accomplice, ordered Mohammed Aqeel Sheikh to take them on a two-hour trip around east London.

Mr Sheikh, who works for Atlas Cars, Ilford Hill, Ilford, told how he was scared for his life after being threatened with a brick, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard today.

A jury convicted the teenager of false imprisonment after less than four hours deliberating.

Mr Sheikh had been asked to collect Turay and his friend from an address in Balfour Road, Ilford at about 4.45pm on May 4.

“Zack Turay threatened the cab driver with violence and caused him so much fear that he effectively was forced to act as a personal chauffeur as he was made to drive to various locations, before leaving without paying,” said prosecutor Benedict Kelleher.

“It was very much Zack Turay who was in charge. He told the driver he was going to Clapton, and the driver said it was £20 and asked for an advance payment.”

The court heard that Turay told Mr Sheikh to “shut up or I will smash your face in”.

Mr Sheikh tried to escape when Turay and his friend ordered the taxi to stop near Homerton Hospital but Turay held a brick up to the windscreen, shouting “f***ing stop you bastard”, it is alleged.

When the taxi eventually returned to Clapton at 6.45pm, Turay tried to snatch Mr Sheikh’s keys out of the ignition but he locked the car doors and drove off.

Adjourning sentence until December 14 while reports are prepared, Judge David Radford said a prison sentence was inevitable.

Turay denied false imprisonment.