An Essex man accused of robbing a taxi driver with two friends told jurors he was on a date in Stratton at the time of the theft.

Mitchell Rhodes, 27, denies robbing the SN1 Cars driver at knifepoint in Alexandra Road, Broadgreen, after 10.30pm on March 1.

Yesterday, jurors at Swindon Crown Court heard claims he was at the Rat Trap pub in Highworth Road on a date at the time of the robbery.

He admitted having earlier that evening been with pals Jordan Collins and Landen McCarthy, who have already pleaded guilty to involvement in the crime.

Rhodes was caught on CCTV with the pair at Baileys Farm Gardens, Walcot, around 40 minutes before the theft. And earlier that day a CCTV camera at a Shell garage in Mead Way, West Swindon, pictured him with the blue Fiat Punto used as the getaway car.

But the jury was told Rhodes had been dropped off at the Rat Trap pub by Collins and McCarthy after they left Baileys Farm Gardens.

He had inadvertently left his phone in the car, which is why mobile phone mast data suggested his device was travelling with his friend’s phone. Rhodes’ phone had continued to receive and send texts, but he said his friends had sometimes used his phone when theirs had run out of credit.

The court was told it had not been possible for Rhodes to take part in a police identity parade, as the victim had left the UK for Pakistan when the pandemic hit. His only evidence before the jury was from his interview with detectives, which was video-recorded and played to the court earlier this week.

The taxi driver told police the attacker who had sat behind him in his cab, held a knife to his throat and demanded “give me the f***ing money” was white, of large build, aged 20 to 30 and had an orange-red messy beard.

At the time, Rhodes was 26 years old, 6ft 6ins and 22 stone and did not have a beard.

Rhodes, of no fixed address, denies robbery. McCarthy and Collins had already pleaded guilty to the charge, jurors were told.

The trial continues.