A blackcab driver who punched and kicked another motorist was jailed for three months on Tuesday.

Nigel Watson, 34, of Azalea Walk, Old Eastcote, who also used a crowbar to smash the other driver's windscreen, was found guilty at Horseferry Road Magistrates' Court of assault and criminal damage. The father of three had denied the charges.

The court heard he assaulted student Toby Green in King's Road, Chelsea on April 7. At 11.30pm that night there had nearly been a collision between Watson's cab and Mr Green's car, after which Watson made abusive gestures before driving off.

Prosecutor Anne Steer said Mr Green pursued Watson all the way to Battersea and back to Chelsea, a five mile trip, to demand an apology. Watson eventually pulled over and got out of his cab wielding a crowbar which he used to hit the windscreen before opening the driver's door and repeatedly punching and kicking Mr Green, screaming "Stop f*** following me!"

Mr Green, who admitted swearing at Watson, noted the cab's registration number which led to Watson's arrest.

Alphege Bell, defending, asked stipendiary magistrate Roger Davies to be merciful and to bear in mind that the events took place after a long pursuit. Mr Bell said jail would have a detrimental effect on Watson's family and livelihood. Watson, a taxi driver for eight years, shares his taxi with his wife, also a cabbie.

But Mr Davies replied: "What is a magistrate to do with a man who produces a crowbar, cracks a man's windscreen with it and attacks him?

"He had denied everything in the face of an excellent prosecution witness, a witness who had no axe to grind. There has been no apology, no contrition, no acknowledgment of his part in this, not a word."

"This was an outrageous attack."

Watson was ordered to pay £150 costs and £100 compensation to Mr Green.

Michael Pearl of the Public Carriage Office, a division of the Metropolitan Police, said they had not yet been informed of the conviction, but would consider Watson's licensing agreement when a report was received.

"Every case is dealt with on its own merits," he added.

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