Taxi driver fights off passenger who held knife to his throat during Sheffield trip
A taxi driver in Sheffield managed to fight off a passenger who held a knife to his throat during an armed robbery attempt.
The attacker, a man from Rotherham, has been sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to three armed robberies in Rotherham and Sheffield.
Daniel Allott, 30, formerly of High Hazel Crescent, Catcliffe, appeared before Sheffield Crown Court on 16 October charged with robbery and two counts of attempted robbery.
The charges related to three incidents in March this year.
On 15 March, Allott forced his way into a Post Office on Far Lane, armed with a kitchen knife. He demanded money from the cashier before threatening to stab customers in the store. The cashier was able to chase him away.
Two days later on 17 March, Allott entered a Petrol Station on Bawtry Road, Canklow, where he charged at the desk and jumped over the counter with a knife in his hand. He forced his way into the till, removing the cash drawer and stealing a number of packets of cigarettes before fleeing the scene.
The following day, he ordered a taxi and was travelling on Park Grange Road in Sheffield when he held a knife to the driver’s neck and demanded his money. The taxi driver fought back causing Allott to flee.
He was arrested a short time later and charged on 20 May.
PC Emma Blackburn said: “Allott terrorised his victims in a string of armed robberies.
“There is no doubt he is a dangerous individual, and he is quite rightly now off the streets of South Yorkshire for a significant period of time.
“I hope that his sentence acts as a deterrent to those who would consider a life of crime, and I hope the public and his victims can be reassured that we will do whatever we can to tackle shameless criminals and keep our communities safe from them.”
