A LANDSCAPE gardener who beat up an Asian taxi driver with another man was today starting a 15-month jail term.

Peter Bell, 46, had got the wrong man, believing victim Ijaz Ahmed,42, had earlier upset his daughter.

Mr Ahmed was subjected to a five to seven minute attack.

He was threatened with death, racially abused and left with facial injuries.

The defendant and his accomplice had taken his car keys so he was unable to escape, Burnley Crown Court heard. Bell, of Berridge Avenue, Burnley, had admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage, but denied the offences were racially aggravated.

A jury decided they were.

Recorder Hiranya Narayan said Mr Ahmed had been an innocent victim. He said he accepted Bell was not "habitually racist," but the offences were racially aggravated.

Jeremy Grout-Smith, prosecuting, told the court the victim went to a Burnley pub to pick up a fare last September.

Bell and another man approached his cab and without provocation assaulted him.

Mr Ahmed's taxi was also damaged to the tune of £170.

Mr Grout-Smith said the cabbie sounded his horn and the landlord and a barmaid came from the pub and stopped the attack.

Mr Ahmed suffered cuts, swelling to his head and neck, four loosened teeth, a red eye and tender ribs.

William Ralston, defending, said but for the upset over Bell's daughter, the offences would not have happened.

He played a smaller role in inflicting the injuries.

The defendant's 78-year-old father was in ill health and he visited him every day.

Bell would lose his council house, his job and his father was going to lose a valuable carer if he was sent to prison.

The defendant would also lose the pleasure of the company of his 14 year old daughter.

She stayed with him four days a week.