A ROBBER who threatened a Staple Hill woman with a knife before stealing from her home has been jailed.
Eugeni Kostadinov stole £2,000 and items of sentimental value from the Staple Hill resident on August 19 last year.
Two days later, he stole a car after threatening to shoot the driver and rammed a police car as he tried to escape.
Kostadinov, aged 38, 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 was caught after 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 attempt 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 Slimbridge, where he left the car in a field and tried to run off but 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.”
Police said Kostadinov has not been recommended for deportation as part of his sentencing.
He is understood to have lived in the UK for more than 20 years.
A Home Office spokesperson told the Voice it does not comment on individual cases.