A TAXI driver feared he would be killed when he was confronted by a customer wielding an AK-47 assault rifle on his doorstep following a dispute over a fare, a court heard.

Rafqat Ali fled for his life after being confronted by David Stratton, who pointed the gun, also known as a Kalashnikov, directly at the cabbie and told him he was going to ‘sort’ the matter out, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Later it emerged the Russian-made firearm had been decommissioned - but not before police armed response officers had raced to the scene, in Barrowford Road, Colne, following Mr Ali’s frantic 999 calls.

Stratton, who admitted possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence to the taxi driver, is now beginning a 10-month prison sentence.

Jailing him and ordering the forfeiture of the rifle, Judge Beverley Lunt said: “It is entirely clear that when you are drunk that there is a significant risk of you committing further anti-social offences.”

Stratton had convictions for making gun threats twice before, the court heard, including a squabble with his landlord where he referenced the Derek Bird shootings in Cumbria, and a claim he would come armed to Nelson Town Hall over a benefits dispute.

Peter Barr, prosecuting, said the offence occurred after Stratton and a friend had been taken by Mr Ali’s taxi from Burnley to Pendle in the early hours of October 12 last year. His friend was subsequently dropped off in the Nelson area.

Then there was an argument over whether the fare should be £6, as the defendant believed, or closer to £15, which the cabbie insisted was nearer to the correct price, the court heard.

Mr Barr said Stratton went inside the house without paying the additional money and the taxi driver went to his front door to enquire about the extra money, finding it ajar. He was then confronted with the AK47.

In a statement given later, Mr Ali said: “I realised that he was going to kill me so for my own safety I ran away.”

The court heard police armed response officers attended the property shortly afterwards and Stratton, also previously known as David Bear, handed over the rifle without incident.

Mr Barr said that an analysis by a police expert, Paul Oldham, had shown that the gun had been substantially deactivated.

Emma Gilsenan, defending, said her client had been under considerable strain before the incident, having lost both his mother and father, within the previous two years, and also had to give evidence in a high-profile court case. He had also suffered from depression.

Stratton felt ‘substantial remorse and shame’ at becoming involved in the whole incident, which was mercifully only short in duration for the taxi driver.

The court heard that the rifle had been obtained from a military memorabilia website and the defendant had intended to put it on display in a cabinet.