A man has been jailed after he admitted committing three knifepoint robberies in around one hour in Stoke-on-Trent.

Joshua Woolley, 31, of no fixed address, was jailed for nine-years-and-four-months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Wednesday 1 April, after he admitted three counts of robbery and three counts of possession of a knife blade / sharp pointed article in a public place.

Lead investigator, Pierce Linton, of CID, said: "Woolley committed three knifepoint robberies across Stoke-on-Trent in the space of around an hour.

"He showed no regard for his victims, thankfully none of which were injured, or their belongings.

"The taxi was located on the same day, on Arbour Road, and provided invaluable forensic evidence which eventually led to Woolley admitting the offences in court.

"I hope this sentence shows we are committed to protecting victims across Stoke-on-Trent and wider Staffordshire."

It comes after Woolley got into a taxi on Dawlish Drive, Bentilee just before 3pm on Thursday 23 October last year.

Staffordshire Police explained that after the taxi came to a stop, on Crestbrook Road in Abbey Hulton, Woolley pulled a knife out of his waistband and threatened the driver.

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The driver then got out of the vehicle and Woolley chased him around the car before getting in the car and driving away.

Woolley then drove the taxi to a petrol station on Ruxley Road, Bucknall. He pulled out the knife again and told a staff member to open the till before he filled a box with tobacco, cigarettes and vapes, and left the scene.

At 3.40pm, officers were called to The Potteries Shopping Centre after Woolley approached a woman and pulled two gold chains, worth approximately £2,000, from around her neck.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: "Woolley was stopped nearby and a bag he was carrying was searched, where officers found two necklaces, cigarettes and a large kitchen knife.

"He was arrested and despite answering 'no comment' to all questions when he was interviewed in custody, later admitted the offences in court when presented with the evidence against him."