A CABBIE called the cops when a late night fare row turned racial, a court heard.

The driver took a barrage of abuse for being Pakistani before officers arrived.

That abuse cost Bernard Kaye 120 hours of his time and £387 in compensation and costs at Hereford Magistrates Court.

Kaye, 50, from Sherbourne Close, Newton Farm, Hereford, was appearing for sentence having been convicted of racially-aggravated threatening behaviour at an earlier hearing.

Liz Tweed, prosecuting, said Kaye hailed the cab in Hereford city centre and asked to be taken home.

Once there, she said, Kaye and the driver argued over the fare. The argument turned ugly with Kaye using racial obscenities and trying to grab the cabbie's radio as he raised the alarm.

Rebecca Edmonds, for Kaye, asked the bench to see an isolated offence arising out of 'anger and drink' in light of his previous good character.

In the normal course of events, she said, there is nothing to suggest (Mr Kaye) exhibited 'the sort of behaviour that was the subject of (his) trial'.

The bench imposed a 120-hour community punishment order on Kaye, ordering him to pay £100 compensation and meet £287 in prosecution costs.