A CABBIE was left unconscious after being stamped on in an alleged racially aggravated assault.

The assault happened in Sandown Road, Christchurch, around 2.45am on Saturday after the driver had collected a man outside a nightclub in Bargates.

The passenger asked to be taken to Mudeford, but, part of the way into the journey, he said that he only had a certain amount of money on him and the taxi driver agreed that he would drive as close to his destination as possible.

Once the meter was over the amount the taxi driver stopped along Sandown Road - about a mile away from the rank.

Police said that the man then became verbally abusive and began making racist remarks, before getting out of the vehicle and slamming the boot lid repeatedly.

When the victim got out of his taxi the suspect threw him to the floor and stamped on him. The victim managed to get to his feet, but was then punched in the chest and face a number of times.

It was the final punch caused the victim to fall and lose consciousness briefly and the man fled the scene.

The victim, a Bournemouth man in his 30s, suffered cuts and bruising and required medical treatment.

He took a mobile phone picture of the man in the back of his taxi and police issued it yesterday.

One cabbie who has been working in the area for 11 years said he was shocked that something like that could happen in Christchurch.

“In all my time as a taxi driver I have never experienced anything that bad and have only had three customers run off without paying,” he added.

“Most people realise that they have to pay for their taxi fare so there’s not really a problem and Christchurch is usually a nice area.

“But in this profession it all depends on the type of character you pick up but so far I have been lucky.”

Christchurch taxi driver Hassim said there was always a risk when picking up people who have been drinking.

“It’s amazing what alcohol can do to people and how it can make them behave,” he said.

“As taxi drivers we are always at risk.”

On Thursday afternoon, a man made himself known to Dorset police and is now helping with enquiries.

Witnesses and anyone with information about the incident should call Dorset Police in confidence on 101, quoting incident number 25:90.

Alternatively, call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.