A MAN was arrested after shouting racial abuse at a taxi driver he thought was "ripping him off," a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Graham Coates was on his way home to Darwen from a Blackburn town centre night out and found himself locked in the back of the cab after disputing the fare.

But in an ironic twist he was represented in court by the duty solicitor Basharat Ditta who said he did not believe Coates was a racist.

Mr Ditta said that when Coates saw who was representing him he was clearly embarrassed.

"The first thing he said to me was that he is not a racist and I believe him," said Mr Ditta. "Through drink he behaved in a manner he is totally ashamed of."

Coates, 29, of The Sidings, Darwen, pleaded guilty to using racially aggravated threatening behaviour.

He was fined £100 and ordered to pay £50 compensation and £54 costs.

Bill Maude, prosecuting, said Coates left Blackburn in a taxi with three ladies who had been dropped off in Lower Darwen.

When they got close to Coates' home he told the driver, a Mr Ali, to stop and refused to pay the fare.

Mr Ali radioed his base and asked them to call the police and only then did Coates pay the fare and demand to be taken home.

After the police arrived Coates, a computer-aided design engineer, shouted racist abuse at Mr Ali.

Mr Ditta said Coates had been told the fare was double what he expected.