A taxi passenger has been jailed for four years for a terrifying knife ordeal that turned a taxi driver into a nervous wreck.

Christopher John Boocock, 23, put a knife to the throat of Terence Bogg and demanded money at the end of a £2 ride, York Crown Court heard.

Mr Bogg was so terrified by the hold-up, he needed medical treatment for weeks after the attack.

"The taxi driver has now lost his bottle," Judge Jonathan Crabtree said.

"He is a nervous wreck and it is a very serious matter."

The judge jailed Boocock, of Charles Street, Selby, for four years for assault with intent to rob on April 6 in Tennant Street, Selby.

Boocock denied the charge but was convicted by a 10-to-two majority.

The man who arrested him, DC Peter Masterman, said he and his colleagues were very pleased with the verdict and the length of sentence.

"Hopefully, it will discourage others of committing very similar offences and taxi drivers will feel a little safer," he said

Opening the prosecution, Tom Storey said Boocock had hung around the taxi rank in Selby centre for 15 to 20 minutes before getting into Mr Bogg's taxi.

During the journey he moved from behind the passenger seat to behind the driver and asked if the driver had change for a £20 note.

This was a ruse, said the barrister, to discover how much money was in the cab.

The jury heard evidence of how, at the end of the journey, Boocock put an arm across Mr Bogg's face and a blade to his throat. But Mr Bogg managed to open his door and Boocock fled.

In the witness box, Boocock denied assaulting Mr Bogg.

He claimed he had got into the cab knowing he could not pay and had made off at the end of the journey without paying.

He denied loitering near the taxi rank sizing up taxi drivers, and claimed the question about the £20 note was just to make conversation.

Updated: 16:10 Friday, June 29, 2001