A violent robber who left a taxi driver with horrific injuries has been jailed for three years.

Tynan Nelson, 20, of Nunnery Close, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, admitted the attack which left his victim, Mohamed Maher Al-Kotob with a broken nose, 12 stitches in his face, a broken shoulder, broken wrist and severe bruising.

Shortly after the attack, Mr Al-Kotob told the Oxford Mail he thought he was going to be killed as he was beaten.

Mr Al-Kotob had picked up Nelson and two other men who have not been named, at 3am on January 13, at a taxi office on St Aldate's in Oxford city centre, the court heard yesterday.

Andrew Morgan, prosecuting, said: "He was seized by Nelson and held around the neck.

"He was pinned to the driver's seat and set upon by the other male, who walked to the driver's door and began to punch him."

Mr Morgan said the victim was kicked in the head and face and said he recalled seeing his blood splattered over the glove compartment.

He said: "He screamed 'what do you want from me?' He was told 'give us your money, we want your money.' "He continued to be struck as he produced a white purse with his takings for the evening, £70 to £80."

He said the robbers stole a satellite navigation system, taxi radio and mobile telephone as well as the cash.

Mr Morgan said when the victim managed to get free he was so dazed he did not get far before he fell over.

He said Nelson caught up with him, put him in an arm lock and kicked him.

"When he got free he went to a nearby house and the police and ambulance were called," said Mr Morgan.

Graham Bennett, defending, said although Nelson had previous convictions, he had never committed an offence of the gravity of this robbery.

He said: "He has under achieved academically and been finding life fairly frustrating."

Judge David Morton Jack told Nelson: "This was a dreadful incident which clearly calls for a deterrent custodial sentence.

"Your victim was a taxi driver, a person who serve the public, who must have the special protection of the courts. That violence was completely gratuitous."

The court heard Mr Al-Kotob is not expected to return to work until late April.