A vicious robber who slashed the face of a taxi driver to steal his earnings has been jailed - after being caught by a PC who recognised her voice.

PC Andy Cleaver managed to identify Jessica Buchanan after hearing her speak; recalling the twang caught on a dash camera during the attack off New Birmingham Road, Tividale, weeks beforehand.

The Sandwell neighbourhood officer had been visiting nearby flats, where Buchanan was staying, on July 4th last year with PC Mark Summerfield on an unrelated matter. A knife was found in Buchanan’s bag after she was arrested. The 21-year-old initially denied any involvement in the robbery which saw the taxi driver have a knife pushed against his neck as she demanded cash - leaving him with scarring to the nose and lip following a struggle.

The only available evidence at the time was audio captured on dash cam and the victim’s phone which also caught her giggling as she made off with £75 in the early hours of 18th May.

Following her arrest, other phones were linked to Buchanan and officers established she used a false name to book cabs from the firm and provide different addresses to avoid being identified. 

Buchanan, of no fixed address, went on to plead guilty to robbery at Wolverhampton Crown Court and was jailed for four years and 10 months on Friday 3rd February.

Detective Sergeant Wayne Dudley, from West Midlands Police, said it was a fantastic piece of police work which took a vicious robber off the streets.