A would-be robber who seized a taxi driver by the throat and demanded money after luring him into a late-night trap has been jailed for 32 months.

Daniel Mortimer booked the Access Private Hire vehicle to arrive at his then home in Crag Road, Shipley, then launched the attack, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

He opened the driver’s door, seized the cabbie round the throat and repeated: “Give me the money.”

When the driver managed to get his vehicle into gear and it rolled forwards, Mortimer kicked him in the stomach, prosecutor Emma Downing said.

He finally let go when the taxi pulled away. The driver rang his firm and the police were immediately alerted.

Mortimer, 32, of Pemberton Drive, Shearbridge, Bradford, pleaded guilty to assault with intent to rob shortly before midnight on June 2 last year.

The court heard that the taxi driver could have sped off when Mortimer was hanging on to his cab door but he chose not to, fearing he could be flung under the wheels and seri-ously hurt.

The victim sustained pain to his throat and stomach in the attack, Miss Downing said.

Mortimer had a previous conviction for assault with intent to rob in Bradford’s Peel Park. His other 18 convictions included assault by beating, possession of an offensive weapon, robbery and matters of dishonesty.

His barrister, Gerald Hendron, said in mitigation that he had serious mental health prob-lems and had been offence free for five years.

He was heavily in debt at the time and being exploited by others for money.

Mortimer was drinking to excess and using drugs. He had no memory of committing the attempted robbery because of the alcohol he had consumed that night.

He now had a full-time mental health worker and was taking fewer drugs.

But Recorder Abdul Iqbal QC said vulnerable people who worked alone at night provid-ing a public service must be protected by the courts.

Mortimer booked the taxi in a targeted attempt to rob the driver and waited nearby on a wall.

He was wearing his hood up when he opened the driver’s door, grabbed him round the throat and demanded money.

The victim tried to close the door but he was restricted by his seatbelt, Recorder Iqbal said.

Mortimer then kicked him in the stomach after the taxi had rolled forward.

He had limited insight into his offending and the offence was aggravated by his previous convictions.