A Niton man who tried to rob an Isle of Wight taxi driver at knifepoint has been sent to prison for 8 years.
It was on 12th November last year that Nicholas Butcher, of Allotment Road in Niton, caught a ride to Sandown in a local taxi. However, when the vehicle stopped on Station Avenue, Butcher threatened the driver with a knife, demanding he hand over money.
Thankfully, the victim was uninjured and was able to drive away before alerting the Police to the incident. Nothing was stolen.
Investigations led detectives to Butcher’s door and he was arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery and possession of a knife in a public place, 2 charges he pleaded not guilty to.
A trial held at the Isle of Wight Crown Court last week led to a jury returning a guilty verdict on both counts.
His Honour Judge Peter Lodder KC sentenced the 37-year-old to 8 years in custody on Friday, with a further 3 years on licence.
Butcher has more than 17 previous convictions, including for robbery, and in 2018 received a 2-year prison sentence.
Would be reasonable IF he did the eight years.
Still amazed that anyone gets prison now we are full of recent arrivals as well as our own in prison.
Good show on the Judge and Jury.
This story has nothing to do with immigration… Funny how certain types always steer it that way.
What Alexander Smart has said is True! Otherwise we would have plenty of room for our own lowlife….
Behave mate. never had room, the tories need to save the tax money so they can shovel it into their mates coffers. The idea of an Oligarch may have originated in Russia but the UK being doing that for centuries. They just copied us.
Except you are Alexander Smart.
At last a decent sentence. Magistrates please take notice
Magistrates cannot give that length of sentence and if the crime is deemed serious enough it has to go to Crown Court, that is where the problem lies.
Nothing taken, trial by jury, any evidence that a crime took place?
The video footage from the taxi?
Being a Taxi driver can be a very dangerous way of trying to make a living, it’s a lottery when picking up a fare….you never know who you are picking up, however most people are fine…
A thick perspect cage surrounds the driver in cabs on the mainland. If I were cabbying, I would fit one of these. Too many nutters out there now!
Bloody right too. The only problem is, this low life won’t spend the full 8 years behind bars, he’ll only serve half this sentence if he behaves himself. I don’t agree with this ruling. Whatever sentence the judge decides, should be served in its entirety.
How right you are it makes a mockery of the justice system every time.
he won’t serve half of that sentence, over four years becomes a parole sentence, maybe after 6 years he will get a chance but i doubt anytime before that.
Shouldn’t have asked for a tip. Got the wrong sort.
At last a sentence that almost fits the crime ,well done the judge in this case ,this is the sort of punishment that is needed in cases like this .
the prisons are full now because sentences are usually to lenient in these cases so no deterent is seen to be in the punishment..
His history finally caught up with him.