TWO Newport teenagers put an elderly taxi driver through "a period of trauma he will remember for the rest of his life", a court heard.

Newport crown court heard how Michael Smith, 18, and Kyle Fairfax, 17, got in the taxi in the city centre at about 11.30pm on July 7, and asked to be taken to the Bettws estate.

Robert Buckland, prosecuting, said that they kept the driver, 68-year-old Donald Felkin, driving around lanes near Rogerstone for some time, unable to decide where they were going.

He said Fairfax then asked Mr Felkin to stop so that he could urinate, but the mood changed.

They demanded Mr Felkin get out of the car and, when he refused, Fairfax leaned through the window to try to push him out while Smith punched him in the face.

Fairfax then grabbed the keys from the ignition, got in the driver's seat and drove Mr Felkin and Smith around the dark lanes at high speed until he crashed into a hedge.

Smith then took over the driving and demanded money from Mr Felkin, who said he only had about £3.50.

He finally stopped the car in Monnow Way and again demanded money and credit cards, finally agreeing to exchange the car keys for the cash. Mr Buckland said Mr Felkin was "very, very upset and concerned" at what was happening.

Both Smith, of Monnow Way, and Fairfax, of Graig Wood Close, pleaded guilty to robbery.

Harry Baker, defending Smith, said he had been frank and honest about his involvement.

And Stephen Thomas, defending Fairfax, said he bitterly regretted what he had done and was sorry for the effect it had on the driver.

Sentencing both defendants to three and a half years' detention, Judge Phillip Richards told the pair: "You inflicted on him a period of trauma which will remain with him for the rest of his life. Indeed, he feared for his life as a consequence of your actions."

He sentenced Fairfax to a further two months' detention, to run concurrently, for breaching a conditional discharge for attempted theft.

Smith received an extra four months' detention, to run concurrently, for breaching a community-based sentence for burglary.

Both were also banned from driving for 12 months.