A robbery victim told that he was about to be buried alive was so terrified that he leapt from a moving van.

David Purdie feared for his life as he was being held captive in the moving van by criminal couple Anthony Lee McAllister, 30, and his wife Claire Nicola

Boswell, 35.

After attacking Mr Purdie, they issued a chilling threat, telling him he would first be stripped naked and then buried at a secret countryside location near Carlisle.

Alaric Walmsley, prosecuting, said: “He was so frightened that, despite the van travelling in excess of 35mph, he jumped into the front seat and threw himself out of the moving vehicle and into the road.”

The barrister said: “They threatened to strip him of his clothing. They threatened to take him into the country. They said they would bury him and leave him there.

“David Purdie was terrified. He believed they would carry out the threats.”

Mr Purdie forced open the door of the moving van and leapt for his life. Injured and traumatised, he was quickly helped by passers-by. As well as his physical injuries, he was left suffering nightmares, Carlisle Crown Court was told.

McAllister and Boswell admitted robbery and string of driving crimes. They were each jailed for a five years and five months.

Mr Walmsley described how Mr Purdie innocently accepted their offer of a lift home, climbing into the back of the couple’s van, initially driven by Boswell. McAllister, whom he knew, was also a passenger.

But a short time later, McAllister jumped into the back of the van and began punching Mr Purdie’s face. Boswell then pulled over and and the pair rifled their victim’s pockets.

They took his phone and cash, and then told him to reveal his bank card PIN number as McAllister drove out of the city. It was as they were passing Scotby that Mr Purdie jumped. Passing motorists stopped to care for him until the emergency services arrived.

McAllister and Boswell – who played a lesser role – fled. Police found the couple – both heroin users – in Carlisle on October 2 after a police chase.

Paul Tweddle, for McAllister, said the robbery was not pre-planned.

Greg Hoare, for Boswell, conceded: “It appears to have been somewhat of a corrosive relationship for the pair of them. She certainly very much regrets being involved in this piece of unpleasant offending.”

Addressing McAllister, of Caldbeck Road, and Boswell, of Petteril Terrace, Carlisle, Judge Tony Lancaster told them: “The offence involved violence, bullying, unlawful detention and, on your part Mr McAllister, threats of burial.”

McAllister must also serve a two-year driving ban.

Detective Constable Susanne Hayward, of North Cumbria CID, said: “After all they put him through they managed to take £50 and a mobile phone. What made it worse for the victim was the innocent circumstances in which he accepted a lift from two people he knew and believed he had a friendship with.”