A RETIRED man has been ordered to compensate a taxi driver he assaulted in a row over a dog.Thomas Shevlin, of Langer Road, Felixstowe, admitted hitting the driver who turned up at the pub to collect him and his King Charles Spaniel on December 23.

A RETIRED man has been ordered to compensate a taxi driver he assaulted in a row over a dog.

Thomas Shevlin, of Langer Road, Felixstowe, admitted hitting the driver who turned up at the pub to collect him and his King Charles Spaniel on December 23.

Ruth Ball, prosecuting at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court said the 60-year-old had ordered the cab after drinking in The Dolphin pub in Felixstowe.

Ms Ball said: "The driver asked him if he wouldn't mind putting the dog in the foot well so it wouldn't jump on him as he was driving."

But Shevlin refused saying the brown and white dog would jump up if it was on the floor.

When the taxi stopped outside Langer School the 60-year-old punched the driver on the left hand side of the face causing a bloodshot eye and bruising.

John Hughes, mitigating, said Shevlin was ashamed of his actions which he described as "out of character."

Mr Hughes said: "He realises even though he felt the taxi driver was being cheeky to him he had no right to do what he did in slapping the driver across the face."

He said Shevlin, who is due to have surgery in March, was a carer for his ex-wife and "had very little time for himself."

The court heard he was "under a considerable amount of pressure" with health and family problems. He had been cleared of a cancer scare and there were problems with his young grandson.

Magistrates granted him a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £100 compensation. He was also told to pay £45 prosecution costs.