A Dursley man who was due to be sentenced for robbing a woman of her car at knifepoint in Abbeymead, Gloucester, has sacked his lawyers, a court was told on Friday (April 8).

Sam Broder, of The Crapen, Dursley, told Gloucester Crown Court he wanted to be sentenced straightaway without anyone to speak for him and he did not want any mental health assessment carried out.

But Judge Ian Lawrie QC refused to go ahead with sentencing and told Broder he was adopting a 'Kamikaze' approach to his future.

Broder has admitted robbing Christine Burton of a Hyundai Coupe in Mead Road, Abbeymead in Gloucester on November 5, 2021 and was due for sentence at Gloucester Crown Court on Friday (April 8).

His crime had been featured in the first episode of the Channel 5 documentary series 'Policing After Dark,' which was broadcast last month.

Having refused to leave his prison cell on Friday to attend the court Broder appeared on video link and told Judge Lawrie that he was no longer legally represented. He was asked if he was seeking alternative legal representation and replied, 'No'.

Judge Lawrie responded: "You should have legal representation. You need all the help you can muster as you are looking at a substantial sentence of around eight years."

Broder replied: "I am not interested."

Judge Lawrie declared, however, that because Broder had no legal representation, he could not deal with him without exploring other sentencing options - something which a defence lawyer would have undertaken on his behalf.

Judge Lawrie said: "This is a prime example why we need to analyse your mental health background. I understand you didn't co-operate with the probation service when they tried to conduct a pre-sentence report on you.

"But you need to speak to the mental health team so they can assess you properly."

Broder indicated he would not work with the mental health team and told the judge to get on with sentencing him. The judge assured him he would not get locked up in mental health hospital.

Broder said: "None of this is not necessary. All this offending was down to my drug habit and alcohol misuse."

Judge Lawrie told Broder: "I am not being obstructive or difficult, but I need to sentence you to a custodial term of some substance.

"Additionally, I need to know if you pose a danger in the future. You have only been before the court on one previous occasion, and for something that was not very serious.

"I have seen letters from your family in which they set out some of the problems you've had in your life.

"I have to consider all issues and options and I am not prepared to sentence you blind. These additional reports will not stop you going to prison, but they will help me assess the appropriate duration.

"I can't take these issues into account if you don't co-operate with various bodies. I have a duty to ensure your welfare is looked after. This offence is a quantum leap from your first conviction.

"Your actions qualify you as being classed as 'dangerous' in the legal sense and without a lawyer present acting on your behalf, I need to make sure that we cover all bases.

"You need to be physically present in this court on May 9 when you are due to be sentenced. We need to show at that hearing that we have made all the enquiries possible in respect of your case.

"I truly think you are taking a Kamikaze approach to all this."

Broder has also admitted driving the car without valid insurance in Salter Street, Berkeley; driving with excess alcohol by having 46 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath and possessing a lock knife in Salter Street on November 5, 2021.

The judge imposed an interim restraining order on Broder, banning him from having any contact with his victim by any means.