A man threatened and racially abused a Norfolk taxi driver in what a judge called a 'mean and unpleasant' offence.

Jamie McMahon, 24, objected when a taxi driver, who picked him up at the Thickthorn service area, at Hethersett, asked for the fare upfront, Norwich Crown Court heard.

John Morgans, prosecuting, said there was a scuffle, McMahon made racist remarks and said: 'I will find you and I will kill you.'

Mr Morgans said that McMahon continued to make racist remarks and threats even when police arrived on the scene.

McMahon, of Cliff Hill, Gorleston, admitted racially aggravated threatening behaviour.

He also admitted a burglary, in Blofield, in which he broke into a property but fled empty-handed when the alarm went off.

Jailing him for two years and eight months, Judge Katharine Moore said: 'It was a mean and unpleasant offence.'

Andrew Oliver, for McMahon, said 'This was not a targeted racial offence. He had not picked out that taxi driver.'

He said that there had been a misunderstanding and he had taken issue over being asked to pay the fare upfront.