A thug who punched and kicked a taxi driver after refusing to pay his fare has been jailed for more than two years.

Violent passenger Louis Betson, 20, repeatedly kicked and punched the cabbie after calling for a taxi in November last year.

He had asked to be picked up from the Luton Arches area at about 4am one morning and asked to be taken to Thornham Road, Gillingham.

Because of the time in the morning the driver had asked for the cash up front but Betson protested he was a regular customer and said a relative would pay when he got to the other end and gave the driver his mobile phone as a deposit.

However, when they arrived at the address in Thornham Road, Betson, of Napier Road, Gillingham, refused to pay and demanded his phone back.

He then attacked the driver, pulling him from his vehicle and subjecting him to a sustained assault.

Betson also smashed the victim’s own mobile phone and stole cash from his trouser pockets.

He was arrested days later, but denied any wrong doing.

He told police he had lost his wallet but had intended to pay and tried to blame the driver, making false claims he had been provoked after the cabbie had slapped a relative in the face.

Benson was found guilty of the robbery at Maidstone Crown Court and was jailed for two years and three months.

DC James Dark said: "Taxi drivers do a difficult job, and provide an important service to their communities.

"They can sometimes be left feeling vulnerable when working late at night but should never be at risk due to unprovoked and violent attacks carried out by people like Betson.

"He has rightly been jailed and I hope this will provide some reassurance to the victim."