WHILE on bail for robbing a cyclist and trying to rob a terrified taxi driver, Michael Orchard unleashed a violent assault on a nightclubber, a court heard on Wednesday, January 16.

Orchard, 23, of Stockdale close, Hardwicke, was jailed for a total of four years after he pleaded guilty at Gloucester Crown Court to all three attacks.

His excuse for the crimes was that he was angry and frustrated about the fact that his father was dying, the court was told.

Prosecutor Julian Kesner said Orchard's crimes began on September 28, when he knocked a cyclist off his bike in Gloucester at 4.45am and robbed him of £10 and his mobile phone.

Later, Orchard grabbed a taxi driver around the throat and said 'give me all your money otherwise I'm going to kill you', the court heard.

Orchard was arrested on October 12 and said he had no recollection of the two offences because he was drunk.

He was bailed and on October 30 he attacked a man in Fever nightclub in Gloucester, felling him with a single punch.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC sentenced Orchard to nine months for the robbery, 18 months for the attempted robbery of the taxi driver and 21 months for unlawful wounding.