A man and a woman have been sentenced having committed a series of knifepoint robberies in Slough.

Fizan Syed, aged 36, of no fixed abode, and Aalia Chaudhary, aged 36, of Minster Way, Langley, each received nine year sentences after being found guilty of four counts of robbery at a hearing at Reading Crown Court on 25 January.

Between November 2015 and May 2017 the pair carried out the robberies on taxi drivers in Langley. They would enter a vehicle, where Syed would sit behind the driver and Chaudhary in the other rear passenger seat.

When the taxi would arrive at their destination, Syed placed his arm around the neck of the drivers and put a knife to their necks whilst Chaudhary searched the vehicles for valuables before fleeing the scene.

Two taxi drivers sustained facial injuries in the robberies. They have both since made a full recovery.

Officers traced the pair to an address in Langley following an extensive investigation. Chaudhary was arrested on 8 June 2017 and Syed on 9 June 2017. They were both charged on 17 October 2017.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Edward Elms, of the Investigation Hub based at Slough police station, said: “Chaudhray and Syed targeted taxi drivers in the late evening and lulled them into a false sense of security and then robbed them at knifepoint.

“These were despicable acts on people carrying out a service to the public and I am satisfied that they have both been given a significant sentence.

“Thames Valley Police will strive to work to bring offenders to justice in this way, especially for offences such as this which cause a lot of concern and impact to the public.”