A MAN who robbed a woman at knifepoint and took a car after threatening to shoot the driver has been jailed.
Eugeni Kostadinov, aged 38, rammed a police car after the carjacking, which happened after he stopped his own car in the middle of the busy A38 in Thornbury.
Kostadinov was convicted of two counts of robbery, three counts of attempted robbery and possessing a Class A drug following a six-day trial earlier this year.
The Bulgarian national, of no fixed address, had already pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without insurance.
He was sentenced to eight years in prison, was banned from driving for four years and ten months, and was ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge at Bristol Crown Court on July 22.
Avon & Somerset police said Kostadinov threatened a woman with a knife before stealing £2,000 and items of sentimental value from her home in Staple Hill on August 19 last year.
Two days later he was seen driving erratically to the A38 in Thornbury. He abandoned his car in the middle of the road then threatened several drivers, to try to rob them of their vehicles.
Witnesses saw him open the door of one car and attempting to steal the keys from the owner.
After trying the locked door of a second car and banging the window, he approached a third, opened the door and threatened to shoot the driver if he did not get out.
The driver got out of the vehicle and Kostadinov drove off, with police in pursuit.
He reversed into one police car before driving to the Slimbridge, where he left the car in a field and tried to run off but was was arrested.
Police said they found no evidence Kostadinov had been in possession of a gun at the time of the carjacking.
Investigating officer PC Rebecca Bailey said: “Kostadinov’s abhorrent actions during these two incidents have had a lasting and profound effect on the victims in this case.
“Through the bravery of the victims and witnesses in this case, the hard work of the tactical support teams and uniformed officers at the scene, we were able to apprehend Kostadinov, reunite victims with their stolen property and put Kostadinov in front of the court to achieve this positive sentence.”