A MAN accused of hijacking several cars in a spree on the A127 punched one victim and threatened to stab others.

Levi Whalley, 33, of no fixed abode, was charged with robbery and two counts of attempted robbery following the incident last September.

During the incident in the early hours of September 26, Whalley is accused of initially robbing one victim in Herschell Road, Leigh.

Whalley then travelled up the A127 to the Nevendon Roundabout where he hijacked another victim’s Renault Scenic who began driving in a panic.

The defendant’s offences ended in Upper Mayne Road, Basildon, near the Noak Bridge Junction where tried to rob a Ford Fiesta but was detained by civilians and arrested.

Whalley’s trial continued in Basildon Crown Court on October 20, as the prosecution and defence gave their closing statements.

Nate Toms, prosecuting, said: “The victims described the attacker as a white man in a grey hoodie of a slim build between his 20s and 30s.

“I ask the jury to compare that to the custody picture and consider whether it matches the description.

“The defendant was also arrested a short time after the incident in Upper Mayne Road, Basildon.”

The defendant allegedly got into the first victim’s car in Herschell Road, Leigh and punched her in the lip causing bleeding, before driving away with her vehicle.

Later on, the defendant got into the second victim’s car from the passenger side window as he drove away in a panic.

The final victim was waiting in traffic when the defendant allegedly opened her vehicle door and began to drag her out whilst threatening to stab her.

She recovered her key as a member of the public intervened to detain the defendant whilst police arrived.

Peter Clark, mitigating said: “Not one of the victims or witnesses was able to fully identify the defendant in an identification procedure.

“Each of them had the perpetrator in clear view and in clear daylight.

“The victims described the length of time as two or three minutes spent in close proximity with the man robbing or attempting to rob them, and not one of them has been able to say ‘that’s him.”

The jury is expected to deliver its verdict on Monday ,October 23.