Daniel Garrison sentenced for Goldline Travel revenge

Daniel Garrison, 35, of Bramblewood Way, Halesworth, assisted Adrian Ling’s revenge campaign against Goldline Travel for more than three years.

Ling was sacked by the firm in 2012 having been accused of stealing diesel.

During the sentencing of Ling in March the court heard that over the course of seven years the company's vehicles were repeatedly shot at while picking up and carrying fares.

Adrian Ling was described as vengeful during his sentencing in March (Image: Suffolk Police)

Ling was jailed for eight years. 

As part of the attacks, the pair slashed tyres, broke wing mirrors, and hurled corrosive substances over bodywork.

A total of 83 acts of criminal damage against the taxi and private vehicle hire firm's property between March 2013 and May 2019.

Garrison first met with Ling in 2016 and then joined in on the campaign, Ipswich Crown Court heard on Wednesday, during his sentencing for conspiracy to commit criminal damage.

Ling, 63, even used a radio scanner to monitor Goldline's communications systems in order to plan ambushes, in what the judge said was a "revenge campaign of Hollywood proportions".

The company, which is based in Ellough, near Beccles, operates a fleet of coaches as well as taxis.

Defence barrister Steven Dyble gave mitigation for Garrison and said the defendant “played a very junior and supportive role to that of the principal Mr Ling.”

Mr Dyble said Garrison had left the mother of his two children in Yorkshire after their relationship broke down in 2016 and had come to Suffolk “in a very low state”.

Shortly after this Dyble said he had considered taking his own life. 

It was in this state that he met Adrian Ling, who fixed his car, and Mr Dyble said he entered into the revenge campaign on “a favour for a favour” basis.

On top of this the defence barrister stressed his client “finds it very difficult to stand up to people” and “is by nature a passive individual” so he said he was easily commanded by the “irrepressible force” of Ling.

Judge Martyn Levett said the case is “in a category which really is one of its own - unique for this county.”

He took into account Mr Dyble’s mitigation but told Garrison “I take the view that your eyes were wide open and you knew the scale of the damage being done.”

Judge Levett added: “It is quite clear you must have been the driver on at least five if not 10 occasions which enabled Mr Ling to either shoot cars or go to locations where cars could be damaged.”

“Even though you may not have caused any damage yourself. Your assistance was very much nudging the conspiracy along” he said.

Judge Levett sentenced Garrison to an 18-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

He was also given a three month monitor tagged curfew, ordered to perform 250 hours of unpaid work over the next 12 months and ordered to do 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.