A WINSFORD man who robbed a taxi driver at knife point has been jailed for three years.

The hearing at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, March 16, heard how Billy Joe Howe, 26, called a taxi to pick up his friend and take her to Moreton Street in Northwich at around 8.30am on Saturday, February 6.

When it arrived, the Abbott’s Way resident climbed into the front of the car, pulled out the knife and demanded his takings – totalling £35.

He ran off down an alleyway and threw the knife down a grid, but police caught up with him later that day and charged him with robbery and possession of a bladed article.

The money and the knife were also recovered.

Judge Elgan Edwards sentenced Howe to three years for the robbery and three years for possession of a bladed article, to run concurrently.

DC Keith Campbell of the Western Area CID said: “The victim of this robbery was understandably shaken by his ordeal. I can only hope the fact that Howe has received a significant custodial sentence offers him some comfort.”