A Dundee taxi driver has spoken of the moment a would-be robber held a screwdriver to his neck in a terrifying late-night ordeal.
Charlie Rough, who works for Tele Taxis, was the victim of an attempted robbery after he picked up his attacker outside a takeaway late on Sunday night.
The 52-year-old taxi driver was parked up in his silver Fiat Diablo people carrier outside the Pearl of Hong Kong takeaway on Arbroath Road at about 11.30pm when the man entered his cab.
He asked to be taken to Craigie Drive but when they arrived he asked to be let out at a bus stop.
Mr Rough said: “I stopped the car and he shifted over to the seat right behind me. I thought he was going to do a runner.
“Next thing I knew he had a screwdriver in my neck. He tried to reach into my bag but I didn’t let him have it.”
After failing to steal the cash the attacker fled empty handed.
Mr Rough tried to chase the man for a while before another man came to see if he needed help.
He sustained a small cut to his neck as a result of the incident but did not require hospital treatment.
Mr Rough said: “I had a cut on my neck from where the held the screwdriver.”
The man is now being hunted by police detectives in Dundee, who have issued a public appeal for information.
He is described as being aged between 25 and 35 years old, 5ft 7in tall and was of slim build.
At the time of the incident he was wearing a navy blue hooded top or jacket and dark jogging bottoms with white markings down the left leg.
Officers have been carrying out door to door inquiries in the area and are reviewing CCTV footage in a bid to identify the man responsible.
Although he often works night shift in the area, Mr Rough said he has never been through an ordeal like on Sunday night.
He said: “I sometimes have a few runners and people who give you a bit of cheek. Sunday night is normally really quiet. I’ve never had anything like this happen before.”
He said he did not think the attacker had come out of the takeaway, which was just closing at the time.
Anyone with information can call Police Scotland on 101 or speak to any officer.