A thug tried to rob a taxi driver in Bolton by tightening a seatbelt around him and stabbing him with a pair of scissors.

Stephen Mambwe went into the United Taxis on Lever Street in the early hours of the morning and requested to be taken to a nearby Sainsburys.

But Bolton Crown Court heard when it was time to pay he grabbed the seatbelt tight leaving the driver in fear for his life.

During the terrifying incident he pulled out a pair of scissors and struck the driver to the hand.

Aubrey Sampson, prosecuting, revealed the threats made by Mambwe.

He said: “The defendant shouted ‘empty your pockets or I am going to kill you.’”

The driver said the money bag was under his seat.

But Mambwe continued to hold the seatbelt.

The driver eventually opted to put his foot on the pedal and drive into a bollard which meant he was able to get out of the car.

Mambwe was detained by police at a later date.

He appeared in court to be sentenced after admitting attempted robbery and possession of a weapon in a public place.

The 28-year-old also admitted the offence, which took place in February this year, occurred while he was serving a suspended sentence for possession of an offensive weapon.

Nick Ross, defending, said Mambwe was “realistic” about the sentence which would be imposed.

He said he had shown genuine remorse displayed by a letter he had written to the court in which he wished to apologise.

Mr Ross said there were also psychiatric issues and Mambwe still spoke of “hearing voices” and this had been “no doubt compounded by the fact there was class A drug use” at the time.”

Recorder Jeremy Lasker said: “This sentence is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be imposed.”

He jailed him for six years for the attempted robbery and another six months for the breach of the suspended sentence.