A Stoke-on-Trent woman with 111 previous convictions has been jailed for almost three years after breaking into a taxi driver’s home and stealing his cab while high on the drug known as monkey dust.
Taxi Driver’s Home Targeted
Geraldine Grocott, 39, admitted burglary, theft, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
The court heard that the victim, a private hire driver, had parked his £12,000 Toyota Prius outside his home in Smallthorne at around 2am on 13 July. When he awoke, he discovered his house had been burgled. Items stolen included £60 worth of perfume, £40 in cash, and the keys to his taxi.
Inside the Prius were essential belongings — his passport, taxi badge, and an immigration card.
Cab Damaged and Abandoned
Prosecutor Barry White told the court that Grocott was later seen “struggling to drive” before abandoning the damaged taxi, which had sustained £1,500 worth of damage. She was spotted carrying stolen property from the house, while her DNA was found inside the victim’s home and his ID card was recovered nearby.
Troubled Background
In mitigation, defence barrister Matthew Ness explained that Grocott had endured a troubled childhood and was “exploited” by an individual who made her dependent on heroin. After the death of her support worker in 2023, she relapsed into drug use and became homeless.
At the time of the burglary, she was under the influence of monkey dust, a Class B drug linked to erratic and dangerous behaviour.
Judge Unmoved
However, Judge Richard McConaghy said Grocott knew full well the seriousness of her actions, noting she had five previous convictions for home burglary.
“You know precisely what an invasion it is into a person’s life,” he told her, before sentencing her to 34 months in prison and imposing a 17-month driving ban.
Impact on the Taxi Trade
This case highlights the vulnerability of taxi drivers, whose homes and vehicles often contain essential documents and equipment for their livelihood. With vehicles targeted not just for their value but for the items inside, incidents like this cause both financial and emotional damage to drivers who rely on their cabs to work.
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