A MAN who claimed he could not have robbed a taxi driver at knifepoint because he was only 5ft 2ins tall has been jailed for six years.

Lee Taylor, who told a jury at Preston Crown Court his nickname was 'Titch' and he must be innocent because witnesses described the attacker as 5ft 10ins tall.

But the jury of 12 men and women found the 31-year-old guilty after his DNA was found on the victim's clothes by police.

Taylor, of Adelaide Terrace, Blackburn was found guilty of robbery.

The court heard Taylor held a knife to the throat of his victim as he rifled through his pockets looking for money in the attack in the early hours of April 26.

The court heard in the run up to the attack the 52-year-old victim collected a passenger from Mill Hill Taxis in Blackburn.

The passenger then directed the driver to Hollins Street in the town where they picked up a second passenger.

The jury heard the taxi was then directed to Palatine Road, Blackburn where the two passengers robbed the driver, holding a knife to his throat and stealing cash from his pockets before running off.

Police said Taylor’s DNA was subsequently found in the pocket of the victim.

Taylor, who told the court his nickname was 'Titch', claimed he could not be the robber as he is just 5ft 2ins and witnesses said the attacker was 5ft 10ins tall, but the power of the DNA evidence was unequivocal.

A second man was also charged by police but the case against him was later dropped.

Det Sgt Mark Hutchinson, hailed the sentence and the importance of DNA evidence.

He said: “Taylor carried out a terrifying robbery on a taxi driver who was simply going about his business and trying to earn an honest living.

“Obviously Taylor thought he had got away with his crime but he was unable to explain to a jury how his DNA came to be in the driver’s pocket and the jury convicted him.”

No one from Mill Hill Taxis was available comment.