St Ives man jailed after knife robbery and attack on elderly man
A man who held a knife to a taxi driver’s throat and later punched an elderly man in the face in separate incidents in St Ives has been jailed for 11 years
A man has been jailed after robbing a taxi driver at knifepoint in St Ives and attacking an 85-year-old man in a park.
He was sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday (14 May). The court heard that on 13 December, a taxi driver was parked in London Road, St Ives, just before 7am when he was approached from behind by a man who held a knife to his throat.
The man, later identified as 30-year-old Adam McDonnell, demanded money, then opened the rear door of the taxi and pushed the 53-year-old driver inside. He stole the victim’s mobile phone and two packets of cigarettes before again threatening him with the knife.
When the victim raised his hands to protect himself, McDonnell slashed them. The driver told McDonnell there was money in the boot. As McDonnell went to check, the victim locked himself in the car. McDonnell then smashed the windows, took £250, and the driver managed to escape and raise the alarm at a nearby house.
CCTV later showed McDonnell entering a nearby garage and walking in the direction of Dunnock Way. He was found by officers hiding in the loft of a house with blood-stained clothing.
In a separate incident on 3 September, McDonnell approached an 85-year-old man sitting on a bench in Berman Park, St Ives. Wearing a balaclava, he hit the man in the face and stole his drone. He was later arrested in the town centre with the drone in a backpack.
McDonnell, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to robbery, grievous bodily harm with intent, and possession of a knife in a public place. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison with an extended licence period of five years.
Detective Constable Kieran Wickens said: “This was a terrifying experience for both victims. The taxi driver genuinely feared he was going to be stabbed to death in his taxi, while the elderly victim was left battered and bruised.
“While crimes like this are thankfully rare in Cambridgeshire, they are very frightening for victims, and I hope this sentence provides some reassurance to them, their families and the community.”