A man, told he faced a possible jail sentence for beating up a taxi driver in Canterbury, snapped at a judge: “So, I should say goodbye to the children then!”

Martin Walker, 36, of Shalmsford Street, Chartham had admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on Scott Taylor in an argument in November last year.

Judge Heather Norton told Walker she was adjourning sentence for a week so a probation report could be prepared and for the Crown Prosecution Service to get more details on the victim’s condition.

But she then added: “Flare ups of temper in a public place are a serious matter. Although I am adjourning a week, it doesn’t mean I am not considering a custodial sentence.”

Walker then made is ‘goodbye’ comment from the dock at Canterbury Crown Court which resulted in the judge warning him: “Don’t try and blackmail me!”

The assault took place near the Sainsbury store in Kingsmead, following a row over parking in a taxi rank.

The victim Mr Taylor broke an arm in the incident and was taken to hospital treatment and was then unable to drive his taxi.