A drunken night out could end in a prison sentence for a Milford Haven hairdresser who admitted racially aggravated assault.

Nineteen-year-old Martin Raymond Atkinson, of Charles Street, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates yesterday (Wednesday) alongside Christopher Thrower, also aged 19, of Glebelands who pleaded guilty to common assault.

The charges relate to an incident in March when a Pakistani taxi driver was kicked and beaten and subjected to foul-mouthed and violent racial abuse while waiting at the taxi rank at Picton Place, Haverfordwest.

The court heard that Atkinson and Thrower had been drinking heavily on Saturday, March 13, in Milford Haven before getting a taxi into Haverfordwest, continuing their evening in Eddie’s bar.

Prosecutor Peter Lloyd told magistrates that at around 2am on March 14 taxi driver with Harford Cabs Sami Arshad was in his vehicle when Atkinson slapped him on the face through the window and said “go home **** boy.”

When Mr Arshad got out to remonstrate with the two men they punched and kicked him. Racial abuse was again shouted, Mr Lloyd said, and Mr Arshad was thrown to the ground.

He tried to get away, at one point crawling on the floor as the men continued to kick him and shout abuse, before fellow taxi driver Akif Iqbal stepped in to help.

Mr Arshad was taken to Withybush Hospital with bruises to his head, wrist, lower back and leg. He was given pain relief.

Mr Lloyd said that the arresting officer heard some of the racial abuse and the pair were taken to Haverfordwest police station.

Defence solicitor Alun Morgan said that alcohol contributed to the men’s behaviour that night and they accept their behaviour was unacceptable.

Mr Morgan said that during his interview Atkinson said he was “far too drunk” and when asked why he had done it, he said “I don’t know like”.

In his interview Thrower said he was drunk and stupid, adding: “I think we just lost it or something.” Mr Morgan said: “Mr Atkinson wants to make it clear that he is not a racist person, he had not gone out looking for a person of Asian ethnicity to fight. He said the words and admitted that, he accepts he should not have said them and is absolutely appalled,” said Mr Morgan.

Mr Morgan said that Atkinson who works at Todaro’s, Milford Haven, and Thrower, a trainee lagger at Murco, took their work very seriously and would not risk their future by behaving in this way again.

He added that the affect the alcohol had on them that night had frightened them and they now only drank in moderation.

Magistrates warned Atkinson that custody was a possibility. The men will be sentenced on October 27, following probation reports.