A minicab driver was robbed of his vehicle at knifepoint by one of his fares in Canning Town.

But not before he was attacked and asked for his cash.

The driver picked up a woman and five men in the City in the early hours of October 24.

He drove to Canning Town and having dropped off the woman he continued the journey with the men to Plymouth Road.

There, the Old Bailey heard, one of the men got out of the vehicle and threatened the driver with a knife, asking him: “How much money have you got?.”

The driver was told to get out the vehicle before all the men then attacked him, pushing and kicking him to the ground.

The five men drove off in his minicab. The badly damaged cab was recovered a few hours later by police.

During a search of the vehicle, officers discovered a provisional driving licence belonging to Gary Living.

Living, 21, of Lowe Avenue, Canning Town, later handed himself into police.

Despite his denials he was convicted of robbery and jailed for four years.

Det Insp Andrew Furphy said the result was excellent for the victim and the robbery squad at Newham.