SACO — A New Hampshire man pleaded guilty this week to twice robbing the same taxi driver in Saco and Biddeford.

Wayne Thompson, 27, of Derry, N.H., on Monday pleaded guilty in York County Superior Court to three counts of robbery that stemmed from incidents on April 15 and 16, 2012, said Saco Deputy Police Chief Jeffrey Holland.

He was accused of robbing the taxi driver and a local convenience store.

Thompson was sentenced by Justice Paul A. Fritzsche to concurrent 10-year sentences with all but four years suspended, followed by three years probation.

On April 15, 2012, Thompson was picked up near Hill Street in Biddeford by driver Roger Menard of Twin City Taxi. Thompson told Menard he had a knife and demanded all of Menard’s money, Holland said.

The next day, Menard was dispatched to Middle Street in Saco to pick up a fare, who turned out to be Thompson.

Holland said Thompson got in the front seat of the cab and said, “I have a knife, just like last night. Give me your money or I will use it.”

Later that evening, Thompson robbed the Cumberland Farms on Elm Street in Saco.

After the robberies, Thompson fled the state on the Amtrak Downeaster. He was later found by police in Derry, N.H.

As part of his probation conditions, Thompson is prohibited from contacting the victims or entering the Saco Cumberland Farms store.

Gillian Graham can be contacted at 791-6315 or at:

ggraham@mainetoday.com

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