A teen thug who stabbed a cabbie to death and stole his car after boasting about "going to rob a taxi" has been jailed for life.

Oliver Pugh, 19, violently attacked Mohammed Istakhar, 44, after luring him to a remote country lane near Earlswood Lakes.

The dad-of-five pleaded with his killer: "I have got a family, I have got kids," before he was knifed in the chest in the early hours of November 29 last year.

Last month Pugh, now 20, was found guilty of murder and possessing a knife following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

Pugh, of Solihull, was today (September 22) jailed for life and ordered to serve at least 27 years behind bars.

Jailing him, Judge Simon Drew KC said: "It is perfectly clear you were intent on causing trouble that evening and engaged in repeated acts of unprovoked violence.

"There can be no other reason why you directed him to that remote rural location when you got the knife from the caravan.

"You stabbed him in the chest and when he managed to escape from the taxi and ran down the road you hunted him down and when you caught up with him, despite the fact he was bleeding, delivered a further serious wound.

"You offered him no support. Nor did you seek any help. You took his car and his keys and you pulled away from the scene as fast as you could.

"At one point you drove through a hedge and into a field so desperate were you to get away."

Co-defendant Luca de Fazio, 18, of no fixed address, was cleared of murder. He previously admitted having a knife and was jailed for a month.

The court heard the defendants had gone for a night out in Birmingham city centre on November 28 last year.

After leaving Rosies nightclub Pugh asked a woman he met there if she was a snitch and then said "I am going to rob a taxi".

Jurors were told Mr Istakhar, "had the misfortune" of picking up the pair as a fare.

He drove to Braggs Farm Lane where Pugh pretended to fetch cash to pay for the taxi but actually grabbed a knife.

When he returned he stabbed Mr Istakhar through the heart as he tried to defend

himself before stealing his Vauxhall Insignia.

At one point the victim, who also suffered stab wounds to his thigh, finger and arm, was captured on CCTV being pursued by Pugh.

Mr Istakhar was found in a pool of blood along the country lane by another motorist at around 6.30am.

Despite desperate attempts by paramedics to save him, Mr Istakhar died at the scene.

When Mr Istakhar's body was discovered, Pugh's passport was found in his pocket.

A wanted appeal was issued for Pugh and following a number of leads from the public he was arrested hiding in a caravan in Derbyshire.

During interview, both denied any involvement in Mr Istakhar's death, suggesting that the other was to blame.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgood, of West

Midlands Police Homicide Team, said: "This was a horrific attack on a father who was out working that night to provide for his family.

"Earlier that evening, Pugh had also assaulted other men for no apparent reason. He was clearly intent on causing harm to others that night."