A woman who admitted racially aggravated assault after she swore at and punched a taxi driver who refused to pick up her and her dog has been warned she will be jailed.

Laura Farrier, 52, approached the taxi driver with her dog and 'asked him for a lift' but he refused saying he was not permitted to carry animals in his vehicle.

Norwich Magistrates' Court heard Farrier 'lost her temper' and, in a 'rather obscene manner' made references to his 'cultural background and heritage'

Oliver Haswell, prosecuting, said the defendant said she was English and insisted he (the taxi driver) 'would have to take her wherever she wanted to'.

Mr Haswell said the driver filmed some of the altercation, the audio of which was played to the court, which culminated in her punching him in the face through the window of the car.

Farrier, who gave her address as Golding Place, Norwich, appeared in court yesterday having previously admitted racially aggravated common assault on June 14.

The case was adjourned until December 21 so a report could be prepared, but she was warned by District Judge Mike Snow that custody was inevitable but it was just a question of how long.

He said: 'I'm afraid those that racially abuse public servants in this country have to expect a custodial sentence.

'The courts cannot tolerate this type of behaviour.'

Ian Fisher, mitigating, said Farrier lost her long-term partner to cancer in May this year and she 'returned to misusing alcohol as her coping mechanism'.

He said alcohol contributed to her 'appalling behaviour' in this offence.

Farrier was remanded in custody to allow a report to be made.