Pair jailed for robbing taxi driver at knifepoint

A man and woman who held a knife to the throat of a taxi driver as they robbed him have been jailed.

Justin Francis, 39, and Tiffany Davis, 36, targeted their victim as he pulled into Valley Gardens in the Quedgeley area of Gloucester on 17 September last year.

Francis, of Chequers Road in Gloucester and Davis, of no fixed address, both admitted one charge of robbery at Bristol Crown Court last month.

On Tuesday, Francis was jailed for four-and-a-half years while Davis was sentenced to four years.

Gloucestershire Police said the taxi's CCTV captured Francis waving the knife around aggressively from the back seat, threatening the driver and holding it to his throat.

Fearing for his safety, the driver handed over £70 in cash and fled the vehicle before returning when he saw Francis enter a nearby block of flats.

Davis left the vehicle shortly afterwards and the driver drove to the police station.

The pair were arrested when they were tracked down at an address in the city later.

Det Sgt Jon Stokes from Gloucestershire Police said: "The victim in this case was simply carrying out his job when he was confronted by Francis, who threatened him and held a knife to his throat.

"Davis was in on the plan and can be seen deliberately pulling down the taxi's CCTV.

"It's clear neither cared about the impact their actions had on their victim, and the public are much safer now both are behind bars."

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