A man who knocked a taxi driver unconscious and broke his arm in a sustained joint attack has been jailed for 20 months.

Liam Makin, 24, jumped bail and fled to Scotland after attacking Nasir Hussain outside Tesco Express on Otley Road, Bradford, in broad daylight on September 22, 2017.

Makin, of Peel House, Crosley Wood Road, Bingley, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage and assaulting Mr Hussain occasioning him actual bodily harm.

Prosecutor Gareth Henderson-Moore told Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday that Makin and a co-accused male, who was not before the court, struck Mr Hussain on the head in his vehicle after an argument.

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When he tried to escape by running into the Tesco store, he was dragged to the ground and Makin was caught on CCTV kicking him.

Mr Henderson-Moore said that Mr Hussain sustained head injuries, a fractured arm and bruising to his body. He was knocked out by his assailants and still needed physiotherapy on his arm.

The court heard that Mr Hussain at first thought of quitting his job following the assault. He had carried on working as a taxi driver, but he was now concerned and fearful for his safety.

Makin had 35 convictions for 53 offences, including assaulting a police officer, robbery, burglary and theft.

While he was on the run, he was jailed for 18 months in Scotland for housebreaking and stealing a car. His earliest release date from that sentence was May next year.

Makin’s barrister, Clare Walsh, said he was intoxicated when he attacked Mr Hussain after he had been partying all weekend and drinking alcohol.

He had jumped bail because he was in trouble from dangerous people in the Bradford area and wanted to get away from them.

“It was a serious joint attack upon a gentleman doing a valuable public service. Taxi drivers are routinely abused, molested and assaulted" - The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC

Makin was now determined to get his life back on track after spending Christmases and birthdays behind bars.

“He wants stability in his life, and he wants to get back on the straight and narrow,” Mrs Walsh said.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, said it was a very unpleasant offence committed in broad daylight.

“It was a serious joint attack upon a gentleman doing a valuable public service. Taxi drivers are routinely abused, molested and assaulted,” he told Makin.

Makin had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, but he had jumped bail and gone on the run, also admitting an offence under the Bail Act.

“Too many people are jumping bail and it is causing problems,” Judge Durham Hall said.

He sentenced Makin to 18 months imprisonment for attacking Mr Hussain and two months custody to run consecutively for the Bail Act offence.

The judge told Makin the jail term would run from today.