A man from Weybridge who robbed a minicab driver of £25 using an imitation firearm has been jailed for three years.

Shane Bryant, 23, of Melrose Road, pleaded guilty to the two offences, which took place in the early hours of Thursday, August 9.

Mr Bryant pleaded guilty on Thursday, October 25, to robbery and having a starter’s pistol in his possession and was sentenced on Friday, December 14 at Guildford Crown Court.

Mr Bryant flagged down the minicab in Oatlands Chase, Weybridge, at 1am and the minicab driver dropped him off in Melrose Road, near the British Volunteer pub.

When the driver pulled over, Mr Bryant pulled out an imitation firearm and demanded his takings.

The driver, who did not wish to be named, said the incident had affected him mentally and left him afraid to work.

Speaking after the incident, the driver said: “He was pretty calm. I thought he was joking at first and then he said ‘I’m going to blow your legs off’.

“There wasn’t much going through my mind, just that I was going to be shot, it was scary. I’ve been trying to work since, but I feel a bit scared.

“We get abuse all the time and people kick our cars or swear at us, but nothing like this has happened to me before.”

Mr Bryant walked away from the car after the incident, and the driver contacted police.