A FORMER soldier who terrified a taxi driver on a journey home when he repeatedly threatened to kill him is behind bars.

Gareth Bowes told the cabbie "I've got a f***ing knife and I'm going to use it" as he travelled back to Darlington last year.

The 29-year-old argued with the driver about taking wrong turns and said: "Take me to the address or I'll f***ing kill you."

Bowes - medically discharged from the Army with post-traumatic stress disorder - was jailed on Monday for 15 months.

He sobbed and pleaded to be let free as Judge Sean Morris told him: "I'm afraid my public duty requires me to do it."

His lawyer, Ben Pegman, told Teesside Crown Court that a psychiatrist said Bowes' mental illness was "a significant factor".

Mr Pegman said: "He doesn't seek to make excuses for his behaviour, or minimise the seriousness of this offence, but it's unusual.

"It was entirely out of character. The irony is that this man lost his discipline which he has had in his life from an early age."

The court heard that Bowes had posed no trouble through most of the journey from Newton Aycliffe in the early hours.

Prosecutor Ian West said he paid the £15 fare up-front but became agitated when he neared his destination.

He believed that they had gone the wrong way, and yelled at the driver: "Are you taking the f***ing p***?"

Bowes twice pulled on the handbrake and told his victim: "Get out the car, I'm going to smash your face in."

When the driver refused, he made a gesture towards his pocket and said: "I've got a f***ing knife and I'm going to use it."

The court heard that the drama continued until another cabbie passed the scene and was flagged down, and Bowes ran off.

Mr Pegman said: "He is someone who has served his country extremely well. Records show he was in the army from 2002 until 2010.

"During that period he saw three tours of duty in Iraq. 2006 was really when his problems started when he saw close friends killed."

Last month, Judge Morris refused to sentence Bowes until he had seen medical and military records and a psychiatric report.

Yesterday, he told tearful Bowes: "I'm afraid an attack on a taxi driver can only mean one sentence.

"People who serve the public like taxi drivers are vulnerable, and those who attack them must understand that there can only be one sentence, because that's the only way the message will get out."

In a statement, the victim said: "Nothing like this has happened in more than 16 years. I've never been so frightened in my life."

Bowes, of Lewes Road, Darlington, who now works as a lorry driver, admitted a charge of affray.