Duo with 163 convictions jailed for robbing Scunthorpe taxi driverTWO robbers who have racked up 163 convictions between them are back behind bars after targeting a Scunthorpe taxi driver.
The pair tried to extract money from the driver by saying they would make up allegations about him unless he handed over cash, but he refused and stood his ground, a court heard.
Andrew Suffill, 44, of Normanby Road, Scunthorpe, and Zoe Robinson, 30, of Cemetery Road, Scunthorpe, admitted robbery on January 25.
Gordon Stables, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that the taxi driver was working in Scunthorpe when Robinson hailed him and got in the front seat of his car.
Suffill got in behind and asked the driver what he was trying to do with his sister. They were not actually brother and sister.
The driver said he had not done anything, but Suffill demanded £20 and threatened to report him.
Robinson warned the driver to hand over the money because Suffill could get aggressive.
Both started shouting at him and he feared he was in danger.
He gave five £2 coins to Robinson in a bid to placate her, but she opened a central glove box and said: "Jackpot. Wallet."
The driver grabbed the wallet before she could do so and, in an attempt to escape, he started to drive the taxi.
Robinson was thrown into the taxi while the door was still open. The driver kept his hand on the wallet, but later lost his grip on it and the car stalled.
Suffill and Robinson both grabbed the wallet as well as his phone.
Both left, but a police car appeared and the driver waved it down. An officer caught up with Suffill and detained him.
Robinson was later found hiding between a garden fence and a parked vehicle.
The court heard that Suffill had 109 convictions, including being jailed three times for robbery, and Robinson had 54 convictions.
Tom Ledden, mitigating, said there was an element of premeditation, but minimal violence was used during the "amateurish" incident and the victim was not injured.
Suffill, a former heroin addict, had a "pitiful and miserable upbringing" and he was encouraged to commit offences from a young age. He had a drink problem.
Mark Watterson, representing Robinson, said she had struggled with alcohol and drug addictions, but was motivated to tackle her problems. She had a daughter.
Judge David Tremberg told the pair: "Your victim was a taxi driver. He was providing a service to the public.
"The two of you hatched a plan to rob him. You were both part of this criminal joint enterprise and you went in to this with your eyes wide open."
Suffill was jailed for two years and four months. Robinson was locked up for 20 months.
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