A violent career criminal lured a taxi driver to a terrifying knife-point robbery just two weeks after he had been released from prison on licence.
Philip Phythian, 29, told the cabbie he wanted to visit his sick mother in hospital during lockdown but he pressed a blade to his victim's stomach and screamed 'give me the money'.
In court, the robber blamed the death of his two baby children for plunging him into a drink-and-drug fuelled depression and said he had sought help but lockdown had seen 'all doors closed'.
Now he has been jailed after a judged dismissed his claim to be remorseful and urged him to take responsibility for his own actions.