A 32-year-old drug addict who held a knife to the throat of a taxi driver and robbed him of cash has been jailed for five years.

Simon Groves was told by Deputy Judge David Croft, QC, that the offence was "grievous" as a knife was used and taxi drivers had to be protected.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Geoffrey Cozens was waiting on the taxi rank outside Sittingbourne railway station at 6am on May 31 this year when a man got in the back.

He asked Mr Cozens, a driver for Fab Cabs, how much it would be to go to Tonge Road in the town and was told £3.50 to £4.

Edmund Fowler, prosecuting, said when they reached the destination, Mr Cozens was grabbed around the neck from behind.

"He was held in a tight headlock," he said. "A small knife was put to his neck. The man said: ‘Let’s have the money.’"

Mr Cozens claimed that he only had a small amount of cash but the robber insisted on seeing his wallet, which contained £50.

He took the notes and about £30 in coins and made off towards All Saints Road. The victim called the police on his mobile telephone.

Mr Cozens told how he was shocked when the passenger put a knife to his neck and took his money.

"He got out of the car and ran down the road," he said. "I tried to follow and see where he was going but he went through an alleyway."

The prosecutor said when CCTV film was checked at the station, the man could be seen getting into the white cab at 6.05am.

A detective constable saw the film and recognised the man as Groves, as he had known him for some time.

Groves, of Bull Lane, Newington, near Sittingbourne, was arrested later that day as he was cycling on the Eurolink industrial estate.

Mr Fowler said Groves claimed that he had been at someone’s house that morning and not at the station. He was shown stills from the CCTV footage but denied it was him.

Groves took part in an identification procedure and Mr Cozens did not pick him out.

A facial mapping expert compared footage from CCTV at the station and of Groves at the police station and found that there were no important differences.

The day before the robbery, Groves went to the Co-op in Murston, pushed past shop assistant Kevin Peck and stole six packets of washing powder. He admitted assault and theft.

Mr Fowler said the father-of-three had a long list of previous convictions for offences including shoplifting and possessing drugs.

Tanya Robinson, defending, said Groves was a heroin addict for 10 years but had been "clean" since being held in custody.