A MAN has been given six months to save up compensation for a taxi driver he attacked after a row about "foreigners".
Alan Carter, 54, had been out with his wife and another couple at the Odd Bottle pub in Wold Road, west Hull, when they all got into a taxi driven by Salem Tarhuni at 1.30am on November 24.
Carter was in the front passenger seat and as they set off to drop the other couple in Helmsley Grove, west Hull, the man in the back began arguing with Carter over money he wanted for the £5 taxi fare.
Mr Tarhuni then headed to Carter's home in Flaxdale Court, west Hull, but noticed he was swearing and aggressive and became concerned by some of the conversations.
Hull Crown Court heard the woman said: "Foreigners. What are they doing in my country?"
Carter replied: "Leave it. I'll sort him out."
Carter then told Mr Tarhuni to drive around the corner, but fearing for his safety the driver pressed his emergency button, calling other drivers to his assistance.
Before help arrived, Carter headbutted Mr Tarhuni twice while "screaming and swearing" and punched him to the head.
As other drivers arrived at the scene, Carter tried unsuccessfully to take the keys out of the ignition and then ran off.
PCSO Spencer was patrolling in the area and Carter walked up to him and said: "Are you looking for me? I've had an argument with a taxi driver and assaulted him."
He made similar admissions after being arrested and interviewed by police.
Carter admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The court heard he had previous convictions for violence but had not committed any "for some time".
He is in full-time work and had already paid almost half of the prosecution's £5,000 cost.
Judge Michael Mettyear said he would normally send someone straight to prison for assaulting a taxi driver, but deferred sentencing to see if Carter could build up a pot of compensation for his victim, who suffered bruising and swelling.
The judge said: "This was a very nasty offence on a person going about their duty in the public service."
He told Carter: "I'm not going to pass sentence on you today, I'm going to pass sentence on you in six months' time.
"The reason why I'm going to do that is to see if you can stay out of trouble and save money so you can pay compensation to this man."
Carter will be sentenced at the same court on January 23.
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