A Runcorn man has been jailed for nine months after racially abusing and assaulting a Hungarian taxi driver.

Mark Stephen Davies, 32, from Porthleven Road, appeared at Chester Crown Court to be sentenced after pleading guilty to racially aggravated assault and racially aggravated criminal damage.

At around 7pm, on March 20, a taxi driver collected Davies and a woman from an address in West Bank, Widnes.

They stopped in Ridding Lane, Runcorn, and the fare was put to Davies who objected to the price and paying the toll fee. 

An argument between him and the taxi driver ensued.

Davies then became racially abusive toward the taxi driver and assaulted him.

He also smashed small rear window of vehicle and offside driver wing mirror before making off.

Detective Constable Phil Brown said: “The taxi driver was simply doing his job and should not have been racially abused or assaulted in the course of his work. 

"I hope that Davies now realises that we will not put up with behaviour that insults or discriminates against people who should be welcomed in our community and that the Police will take strong action against such behaviour.”