A Suffolk soldier who punched and kicked an Ipswich taxi driver during a drunken night out in the town has been jailed for 16 months.

Sapper Tyrone Jackson had approached a taxi driven by Kevin Fugelsang, who is in his sixties, in St Peter’s Street in the early hours of the morning and knocked on his window, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

When Mr Fugelsang wound down the window Jackson, who was slurring his words and was obviously drunk, said something Mr Fugelsang didn’t understand and then stuck a finger up at him.

The taxi driver shut the window but then heard a bang and saw Jackson hitting the roof of his car, said Michael Crimp, prosecuting.

Mr Fugelsang got out of his taxi and was punched in the face by Jackson.

He tried to defend himself but fell to the ground. Jackson then climbed on top of him and continued punching him.

At one stage Mr Fugelsang managed to get the better of Jackson but when he let him go Jackson had continued punching him.

Mr Crimp said the incident was captured on CCTV and, in addition to punching Mr Fugelsang, Jackson was also seen kicking him.

As a result of the attack Mr Fugelsang suffered cuts to his face and jaw and swelling to his eye.

Jackson, 20, of Station Terrace, Weeting, Brandon, admitted assaulting Mr Fugelsang causing him actual bodily harm.

Sentencing him Judge John Devaux said the offence was aggravated by Jackson having previous convictions for battery and two for threatening behaviour on seperate occasions in December last year.

He said that in a victim impact statement Mr Fugelsang had described Jackson as a coward for repeatedly kicking him while he was on the ground.

Daniel Taylor, for Jackson, said his client had a difficult childhood and was ashamed of his behaviour on the night in question.

He said that Jackson faced losing his dream career as a result of the attack on Mr Fugelsang.

Jackson had sought help for his issues and was motivated to change his behaviour, he added.

Mr Taylor said Jackson had recently been on a pre-para training programme and had a promising career ahead of him if he wasn’t given an immediate prison sentence.

Mr Taylor urged the court to give Jackson one last chance and pass a suspended sentence.