‘TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE’: Man who robbed and slashed taxi driver with knife jailed for 11 years
- Perry Richardson
- May 20
- 2 min read
Updated: May 21
A man who carried out two violent attacks in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Adam McDonnell, 30, was handed the jail term at Cambridge Crown Court on 14 May. He will also serve a five-year extended licence period after admitting robbery, grievous bodily harm with intent, and possession of a knife in a public place.
The court heard that on 13 December, McDonnell approached a taxi driver parked in London Road shortly before 7am. He held a knife to the 53-year-old driver’s throat and demanded money. McDonnell then opened the rear door, forced the man into the vehicle, and took his mobile phone and cigarettes from the centre console.
He again held the knife to the driver’s throat and began slashing the man’s hands as he tried to protect his face. When the victim told him money was in the boot, McDonnell left the car to look. The driver used the chance to lock the doors.
McDonnell smashed the vehicle’s windows to get back inside and took £250 before the victim escaped and called for help.
CCTV later captured McDonnell entering a nearby garage and walking towards Dunnock Way. Police found him hiding in a loft on the estate with bloodied clothes from the attack.
In a separate case on 3 September, McDonnell approached an 85-year-old man sitting on a bench in Berman Park. Wearing a balaclava, he hit the pensioner in the face and stole his drone. He was later found with the stolen item in a backpack in the town centre.
McDonnell, who has no fixed address, was arrested and charged in connection with both incidents.
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.”
