A MAN who smashed a taxi driver’s knee cap then crashed his car after he refused to give him a ride has been jailed.

Joseph Hickey, 34, kicked and punched Mohammed Mohit, 55, as he lay "in agony" in the street by his cab, a court heard.

He then drove off in his Vauxhall Vectra but smashed it into a parked Audi A4 causing thousands of pounds of damage, Cardiff Crown Court heard yesterday.

Tests revealed Hickey was two and a half times above the legal drink drive limit, with 89 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the court was told.

The crash caused £2,300 of damage to the Audi car and £1,600 to the, Crown prosecutor David Thomas told the court.

Mr Mohit had to have a metal plate inserted into his knee and is set to have a new knee fitted in the future, Mr Thomas added.

Mr Mohit could also develop arthritis which would leave him in pain and discomfort, he said.

Jailing him for 30 months, Judge Patrick Curran said: "While he was in agony on the ground you both kicked him and punched him.

“That is really quite unforgivable behaviour."

The court heard how Hickey got into the taxi with a woman in East Dock Street, Newport, in the early hours of February 23.

Mr Mohit told him he was already booked to pick up a passenger at a Tesco store but he threatened him and the woman got out of the Vectra and left, the court heard.

Mr Mohit got out of his car with the engine running but Hickey pushed him forcefully to the floor, causing the knee fracture, the court was told on September 3.

Hickey, of Merchant Court, Newport, admitted one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm, one count of aggravated vehicle taking, excess alcohol and driving without insurance.

Defence barrister, Heath Edwards, said in mitigation his client had pleaded guilty to the four offences and indicated he had shown remorse for them, adding he was a hard working man.

Hickey received 24 months for GBH, four months for aggravated vehicle taking, two months for excess alcohol, all to run consecutively, plus an 18-month driving ban.

No separate penalty was imposed for driving with no insurance and he was also ordered to pay a £120 surcharge.