A man who launched an unprovoked attack on a taxi driver, breaking his nose, in a row over 20p, has been jailed for 56 days at Bradford Magistrates' Court.

Simon Brook, 32, of Douglas Drive, East Bowling, Bradford, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm to Mahmood Akhtar when he appeared for sentencing.

He was also ordered to pay Mr Akhtar £300 compensation.

But the sentence was criticised for being too lenient by Shabir Hussain, the chairman of the Bradford Hackney Carriage Association.

After the case, he said the law should introduce a minimum six-month spell in prison for people who attacked taxi or minicab drivers.

Mr Hussain said: "I think it should have been a longer sentence. It may seem like a long time but this attacker will be out on the street in less than two months.

"Meanwhile, Mr Akhtar will have to live with this attack every day he goes out on the street in his cab. He will still be wary of what is going to happening to him, that's if he is still driving his taxi."

Mr Hussain said Bradford Council should also think of additional safety measures it could introduce to protect the taxi drivers who pay them for the privilege of operating in the city.

The court heard that at the end of a journey in Mr Akhtar's taxi in early February, Brook offered to pay £5 of the £5.20 fare required.

He eventually handed over the full amount, but then punched the cabbie several times, breaking his nose and bruising his face.

The incident ended when three other people arrived on the scene and intervened.

Sentencing Brook, acting stipendiary magistrate Andrew Pascoe told him: "Taxi drivers are clearly entitled to and will receive protection.

"This was an unprovoked attack on a public servant, in the early hours of the morning and when you were in drink. It was also a repeated attack.''

Earlier Neil Allerton, mitigating, said the dispute had been over the "princely sum'' of 20p and Brook could not explain why he decided to take it further.

He had recently separated from his long-term partner and was emotionally upset after attending a funeral.

"He has been disgusted by his own behaviour,'' said Mr Allerton. "He has indicated he is prepared to meet his victim, under the mediation and reparation scheme.''

A Bradford Council spokes-man said: "We are aware that taxi drivers have concerns about their safety and this is one of the issues which the Council is reviewing.

"Taxi drivers can, and have in some cases, installed perspex barriers as a safety measure. The Council has no objections to this as long as it poses no danger to the passengers or driver."

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