A 26-year-old Skipton man has escaped an immediate jail sentence after admitting racially abusing a taxi driver in the town centre.

Robert Wass hurled racial abuse at Mohammeed Nawaz before punching him twice in the face, Skipton magistrates heard.

Magistrates agreed to suspend his prison sentence, but ordered him to carry out 150 hours’ unpaid work and comply with a weekend curfew.

Wass, who had an “appalling” criminal record, tried to get a taxi home from Skipton Bus Station in the early hours of October 5, despite not having any money.

When he was told to get out of the taxi, he flung the door open and into another vehicle, said Caroline Midgley, prosecuting.

He then repeatedly used racist language at Mr Nawaz before punching him twice, cutting his lip and cheek.

Other taxi drivers went to their colleague’s aid, there was a scuffle and Wass left the bus station, ripping off the wing mirror of Mr Nawaz’s vehicle before he left.

Mrs Midgley said Wass was later arrested and taken to Skipton Police Station where he denied being a racist and suggested he would plead guilty, but only after Christmas, as he did not want to spend the holiday “inside”.

Wass, who admitted criminal damage, racially aggravated common assault and possession of cannabis at an earlier hearing, had matured since his last conviction in March, the court was told.

In mitigation, Shiraz Hussain said Wass was a carer for his grandmother and was now in a stable relationship. He said Wass was not a racist and that he was a father figure for his partner's children, who were both of Muslim origin.

“He is remorseful and is embarrassed and apologetic about the incident. He would like to stress he is not racist,” said Mr Hussain.

“He is the sole carer for his grandma who is 90 years old and on the day in question he had been told she had had an aneurysm and he had turned to drink.”

Mr Hussain said Wass had written a letter of apology to the taxi driver and was voluntarily attending Craven Organisation for Drugs and Alcohol (CODA) to address his drinking.

Magistrates told Wass that the offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence would suffice, although they were prepared to suspend it on the condition he behaved himself.

For the assault and criminal damage, he was given a four-month sentence, suspended for two years. He will also have two years’ supervision and a weekend curfew to an address in Greatwood Avenue, Skipton, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 8pm to 7am. He will also have to complete 150 hours’ unpaid work and carry out an accredited one-to- one programme.

For the possession of drugs, he was given a one-month suspended prison sentence to run concurrently and a forfeiture and destruction order was made on the drugs.

Magistrates awarded total compensation of £220 to Mr Nawaz, including £100 for his personal damage and the rest for the wing mirror. He will also have to pay £85 costs and a £80 victims surcharge.