A Bristol taxi driver who repeatedly gouged the head of a passenger with a spiked bangle has avoided a jail sentence.

Harpal Singh left customer Simon Lumber bleeding heavily from his scalp after the pair disagreed over the taxi fare and the victim refused to get out of the cab.

Mr Lumber was taken to hospital where his head was stapled.

Singh, aged 25, of Badminton Road, Downend, initially denied the attack but later pleaded guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He was told he had come "very, very, very close to prison" and brought shame on his family and community as he was given a 12-month community order and ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work. Singh must also pay Mr Lumber £300 compensation and £100 towards prosecution costs.

Simon Enslie, prosecuting, told Bristol Crown Court how Singh, a private-hire taxi driver, wore his spiked bangle like a knuckle duster to attack Mr Lumber in the early hours of August 3 last year.

He said the married father-of-one was working in the centre of Bristol when Mr Lumber flagged him down and got in with others near College Green.

He drove towards Clifton but the defendant and his victim fell out when a request was made to stop in Westbury-on-Trym and Henbury, and the fare was asked for up-front.

Mr Enslie said the victim thought the fare was too much and the passengers were asked to get out. He said Mr Lumber stayed seated as the others got out and Singh lost his temper.

Mr Enslie said: "The defendant became aggressive and swore at the victim a number of times, telling him to get out of the taxi.

"Mr Lumber said the defendant reached forward and picked up a thick metal spiked bangle, got out of the taxi and went round to Mr Lumber's door and swore at him.

"The defendant had put the bangle on his hand like a knuckle duster. Mr Lumber was too scared to get out of the taxi. The defendant leant into the vehicle to pull the victim by his shirt. Mr Lumber pulled back and said he would get out.

"He only managed to get halfway out when he was struck on the back of his head by the defendant. He fell into the car door and the defendant continued to strike the victim's head."

He said the pair then had a scuffle and the defendant's turban fell off before police then arrived. They found Mr Lumber bleeding heavily from his head and one side of his shirt was said to have been saturated with blood.

The court heard that the defendant had been wearing two bangles. He hid the spiked one in his cab but was forced to retrieve it when officers said they would search the vehicle. His victim's blood was on the metal.

Mr Enslie said Mr Lumber's injured scalp was repaired with three staples.

He added: "As a result of the assault the victim will no longer go out in Bristol city centre and has lost confidence in Bristol taxis."

Jason Taylor, defending, said on the night of the attack a "red mist" had come down and his client had acted out of character.

In a pre-sentence report Singh, who has a previous conviction for possessing a knife in a public place, was assessed as being at a low risk of re-offending. Mr Taylor said the conviction has meant Singh has had to re-think a planned career in law and now plans to study accountancy through the Open University.

A licensing hearing to determine whether Singh can operate as a private-hire taxi driver is due to be held this week.

Sentencing the taxi driver, Judge Carol Hagen said: "You have come very, very, very close to prison. I'm persuaded just that the recommendation in the (pre-sentence) report is the appropriate one to follow."