A new-to-the-job taxi driver who told his passengers he did not know the address they wanted to be taken to was then attacked by one of them, and grabbed from behind as he was driving, with fingers pressed into his eyes.

He carried on driving with one hand on the steering wheel and the other trying to get his attacker off him.

He was then punched two or three times in the face.

At Truro Magistrates’ Court, Crown Prosecution Service solicitor Alison May described what happened as a nasty incident.

David Anthony Parsons, aged 55, of High Street, Falmouth, pleaded guilty to assaulting Henry Taylor on August 26.

Mr Taylor had been working off the rank at The Moor in Falmouth when Parsons and a female got into his car.

When told where they wanted to go he said he had only been working as a driver for a few weeks and was still learning.

Parsons, sitting in the back seat behind him, was abusive, using obscene language to imply Mr Taylor did not know his job.

He then grabbed Mr Taylor with both hands from behind, his fingers digging into his face and mostly his eyes, wrenching his head back into the headrest. After the attack, Mr Taylor told the police he had no actual injuries, but a sore face. The court was told that Parsons had previous convictions for theft, shoplifting, assault on a police officer and battery, and had spent time in prison.

Jeremy Leaning, for Parsons, said his client was appalled by what he had done. It was entirely attributable to alcohol. He had been drinking to excess, which made him unpleasant and aggressive, and he had absolutely no recollection of what had happened.

Alcohol was an increasing problem for him, he was now physically dependent on it and drinking every day.

Parsons, a tree surgeon, had his case adjourned to November 12 in order that a Probation Sevice report can be prepared.