Passenger flew into rage by route taxi driver took

Mr Wills said: “It was clear that the defendant was angry that he did not take the route and he became abusive towards the driver.

“Mr Ahmed was trying to explain to him the reasons for that but that didn’t seem to alleviate the situation.”

Due to his continued aggressive behaviour, Mr Ahmed stopped his Skoda Octavia and called police.

Myers also got out of the vehicle and pushed the driver over, damaging the car door as he opened it forcibly.

Mr Ahmed said that he heard him use the word ‘P***i’ twice, magistrates were told.

Mike Sisson-Pell, mitigating, explained that his client that day had to be at his destination for a set time.

He said: “He booked the taxi in good time and it’s a company he’s used many times before and they still regard him as a valued customer.

“He was passing certain roads that were clearly useable in Mr Myers’ mind and the driver said, ‘I’m going to take you where I want to.’

“They were in danger of missing the deadline and he lost his temper.”

Mr Sisson-Pell added that Myers particularly regretted his behaviour as it was in front of a child.

He said: “He’s mixed race and says he’s the last person on the planet who would be racist.

“The words used are commonly used amongst his peer group.”

Magistrates sentenced Myers to eight weeks in custody, suspended for a year.

He will have to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activities as part of a community order and pay the driver £600 compensation.