Man punched taxi driver who picked up him up from the pub, court toldA THUG punched a taxi driver in the head after being told he could not bring booze into the car.
Riain Richards, 20, of Clements Road, Ramsgate admitted to attacking driver Abbas Khan while he was still on conditional discharge for another crime.
He appeared at Margate magistrates court on Monday for sentencing.
Prosecutor Toyin Kuti told the court the attack happened on a Friday afternoon in August last year after Mr Khan went to The Camden Arms pub to pick up Richards.
Mr Khan said he would wait for Richards, who was drinking with a friend, to finish his drink as alcohol was not allowed in the taxi.
Richards when got in the back of the taxi and, trying to hid a bottle in his pocket, told Mr Khan: "You are a xxxxxxx loser, I will smash you, you xxxx."
Mr Khan then drove him back to the taxi office where Richards became more angry and abusive and punched the Mr Khan in the back of the head.
Paul Shingleton, defending, said Richards had had a "terrible 18 months" since his mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness and then died in 2010.
Mr Shingleton said: "He admits he sort of lost the plot."
Mr Shingleton added Richards had dropped out after his first year of sixth form.
He said that Richards, who now lives with his elder sister, had been diagnosed with ADHD, multiple-schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder and insomnia.
Chairman of the bench Pamela Wright told Richards: "While we have sympathy with your position regarding your health problems and your bereavement, there is no excuse for an unprovoked attack on a man in a public place."
Richards was handed at 12-month supervision order, ordered to complete 10 sessions of a programme on reducing offending and made to complete 30 hours of unpaid work.
He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and £50 compensation for the driver.
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