Car jacker jailed

12:28pm Saturday 17th May 2008

A MAN from Oxford who stole a car at knifepoint has been jailed for almost two years.

Anthony Joyce, 21, forced motorist Stuart Johnson out of his Honda Civic after crashing into him on the A4010 near Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire.

Joyce, of Redbridge Hollow, Old Abingdon Road, Oxford, was one of three people in the van and got out to threaten Mr Johnson with a knife.

He was caught after Mr Johnson picked him out in an identity parade.

During a trial at Oxford Crown Court last month, Mr Johnson said the robbery in January 2007 had left him traumatised.

He told the jury: "I think about it every day."

Witness Thomas Baxter also identified Joyce, who had denied one charge of robbery.

He noticed the van's number plate started with P14, which led police to Joyce.

The court heard only 11 such vans were registered in the Thames Valley, one of which was previously linked to Joyce and was registered at Redbridge Hollow.

Mr Baxter said he was 100 per cent sure one of two men he saw talking to Mr Johnson at the side of the road was Joyce.

The stolen car was found the next day in Milton Keynes, although Joyce's DNA and fingerprints were not found in the vehicle.

Joyce claimed he had been at the Fox and Hounds pub, in Abingdon Road, Oxford, at the time of the robbery and denied involvement.

Judge Julian Hall handed Joyce a 21-month jail sentence at Oxford Crown Court on Friday.