A Halesowen man who threatened taxi drivers with a used needle, has been jailed for seven years following a police investigation.

David Purcell twice pushed a used syringe, which he claimed was infected with the Aids virus, to the drivers’ necks and demanded money, before fleeing with the cash.

But officers traced the 31 year-old using mobile phone data and working with the cab company

Purcell, of Hamilton Avenue, was sentenced for two counts of robbery at Wolverhampton Crown Court.