A DRUNKEN passenger racially abused and attacked a taxi driver after he asked her for her fare at the end of a near 14-mile journey.

Trina Cresswell was picked up at The Chesters pub in Sunderland, at lunchtime on June 23, and asked the driver to take her to the Peterlee area of County Durham.

Although she did not have sufficient cash for the fare, the heavily inebriated passenger told the driver she would collect some money from her house, on arrival.

Durham Crown Court heard that reaching Thomas Street, in Easington Colliery, she directed him to a graveyard entrance, but refused to indicate where she lived.

He asked her for the £23.58 fare and threatened to call the police if he was not paid.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said she became angry and started kicking out, damaging the windows., before trying to climb into the front of the taxi to “attack” the cctv camera and monitor, as the driver asked his control room to contact the police.

Cresswell then punched the driver, grabbed at a bag of coins and his phone, damaging the screen and breaking the ear-piece, and kicked the front air-vent.

The driver managed to open the passenger door to push her from the vehicle, but she ran back towards the car, shouting racist abuse, and struck the driver though the window with a metal bar, causing a fore-arm swelling.

She also shattered the windscreen, before the driver managed to manoeuvre the vehicle further away, awaiting the arrival of police.

He pointed out Cresswell, who was arrested, and when later interviewed made no response to police questions.

Mr Baker said the estimated damage to the car was £535, on top of the unpaid £23.58 fare, and the driver believed his overall loss of earnings was about £1,000.

Cresswell, 34, of John Street, Easington Colliery, admitted racially aggravated common assault and criminal damage, plus possessing an offensive weapon,.

Jessica Slaughter, mitigating, said the defendant was “disgusted” at her own behaviour as she has no “on-going racist attitudes”.

She said the incident took place in the wake of a relationship breakdown after Cresswell went to the pub and drank a bottle of wine and two pints of lager, following a hospital appointment.

Judge Simon Hickey imposed a ten-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, and ordered Cresswell to undergo 20 days rehabilitation activity work. She must also pay £1,000 compensation, but at £5 a week due to her limited means.