A TAXI driver who arrived to pick up a fare in Burnley was subjected to a racist rant by a yob who accused him of being a ‘terrorist’, a court heard.

Cabbie Mohamed Mirza had been called to pick up a fare in Nightingale Crescent when he was confronted by Daniel James Shaw, Pennine magistrates were told.

Prosecutor Enza Geldard said Shaw started to punch the driver’s side window, threatened to damage the taxi and offered to fight Mr Mirza in the street.

The taxi driver left his vehicle, in an attempt to reason with Shaw, the court heard.

But Shaw said: “You are a terrorist – you’ve come here to kill my people.”

One of the punches thrown by Shaw connected with Mr Mirza’s upper right arm, causing him pain, before he was able to get away.

Shaw, of Oat Lane, Padiham, was convicted, in his absence, of racially aggravated assault on Mr Mirza following a trial, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.