A drunken reveller who beat up a taxi driver taking him home from a nightclub after refusing to pay the fare has been jailed for 16 months at Worcester Crown Court.

Jamie Cornes, aged 21, of Skyrrold Road, Malvern, was so drunk after spending a night at Tramps in the city centre that he had only a hazy recollection of the attack on January 8, said his solicitor Joe Kieran.

Cornes pleaded guilty to racially aggravated common assault and making off without payment.

He and friends had been picked up at 3am, said Nicholas Cartwright, prosecuting. Two had been dropped off before Cornes disputed the £25 fare.

He pulled the driver, Imran Khan, from the cab and punched him in the face.

After subjecting him to racial insults, he chased Mr Khan down the road, punching him from behind and then kicking him when he stopped.

Cornes was arrested two days later but the effect of the attack had left Mr Khan extremely frightened and made him want to give up taxi driving.

Mr Kieran said the assault was not planned and drunkenness and confusion about the fare had contributed to Cornes' unacceptable behaviour.

Judge Andrew Geddes said attacks upon vulnerable taxi drivers would always end in custody.