A robber got into a woman's car and threatened her with a kitchen knife after waiting outside a shop for a vulnerable victim. He brandished the weapon and demanded money from her.
Eugene Toby, 41, stole £250 from the victim and took a cigarette during the robbery in Cardiff on March 2 but she bravely refused to hand over her phone. Despite this the thief struggled with the victim in an attempt to take it off her. A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard the victim described her "shock and disbelief" at the robbery and how she "no longer feels safe".
Sentencing, Judge Shoman Khan said: "People go about their lives and in certain places entitled to feel safe. No-one expects this to happen to them in their own car. The victim is anxious, is on medication, and thinks about this incident every day.
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Toby, of no fixed abode, later pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a knife. The court heard he had 32 previous convictions for theft, 13 for burglary, and one for common assault.
In mitigation it was said Toby was motivated to carry out the robbery as a result of his addiction to drugs. He said he was "genuinely remorseful" for his behaviour and has been carrying out work while in custody.
Toby was sentenced to a total of four years and four months imprisonment. He will serve half the sentence in custody before he is released to serve the remainder on licence.
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