A DRUNKEN thug who savagely punched and kicked a taxi driver in Dudley town centre has been jailed for 18 months.

Judge Martin Walsh told 25-year-old Reece Maas cab drivers carried out a valuable service to members of the public and they had to be protected by the courts.

He said Maas had a bad criminal record that included offences of violence as he described the brutal attack on the cab driver as "sustained."

The man was punched and kicked, said the judge, and he also suffered a fractured finger in an attack that was captured on CCTV cameras in the area.

During a hearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge Walsh added: "This man was performing his work and, like all taxi drivers, he was in a vulnerable position.”

Maas, of Eddison Grove, Quinton, admitted assaulting the cab driver in Castle Street and the judge ruled only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate for the crime.

Andrew Baker, for Maas, said his client had been drinking heavily and he had little recollection of the attack on the driver.

Mr Baker added: "He cannot remember anything of what happened, he was horrified when he realised what he had done. He just could not believe the way he attacked this man."

Mr Baker told the court Maas had only just admitted he was an alcoholic and he was now determined to put his life back in order and stay out of trouble with the police.

The court heard Maas is full of remorse for his actions, Mr Baker said: β€œHe knows he needs to sort out his alcohol and anger management problems."