A SERVING soldier refused to pay a taxi driver and made a racially aggravated comment, a court heard this week.

Hereford Magistrates were told that Asif Nazir picked up Christopher McMahon from Commercial Road in the city centre and was asked to drive to Bullingham Lane.

However, on arriving at their destination, McMahon, 34, said he had no money while another passenger ran away.

The court heard that McMahon then made a racist comment but the taxi driver was unsure whether it was aimed at him or the person who fled.

Mr Nazir drove McMahon to a petrol station in Hinton so he could get cash, but he refused to get out.

He then took McMahon to Asda but he refused to pay and got out and walked into the supermarket.

When Mr Nazir did not drive away McMahon got back in the taxi and asked him to take him to Bullingham Lane.

However, when Mr Nazir said he had an outstanding fare, McMahon threatened to break his jaw.

The police were called and McMahon said he thought the taxi fare was extortionate and initially denied that he would use racist words until he listened to CCTV from the taxi.

Matthew Dunford, mitigating, said McMahon was a staff sergeant, who was held in high regard by the army.

He said he had an unblemished military career and had served around the world – and had received a Queen's commendation for bravery.

Mr Dunford said McMahon was drunk at the time of the offences on October 23 and was ashamed by his actions. He said the racist remark was aimed at the man who had run away from the taxi.

He said McMahon was due to be deployed abroad in March and he asked for this to be taken into account by magistrates.

He said McMahon, whose address given to the court was in New Malden, Surrey, is based in the South East, but had been stationed in Hereford at the time.

Magistrates gave him a conditional discharge of 18 months and ordered him to pay £130 compensation to the taxi driver.

He was also told to pay £135 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.