A TAXI driver who beat up an ambulance driver in a road rage incident after the emergency vehicle blocked his path has been jailed for nine months.

Richard Heslop was described as "arrogant and obnoxious" by Recorder Gillian Matthews, who said she had a duty to protect public servants.

The judge rejected pleas for Heslop to be given a community punishment order.

She said it was clear that he had been abusive and aggressive to Richard Hannan, who suffered a dislocated shoulder, concussion and bruising to his face and body.

Heslop, 26, of Temple Court, Richmond, North Yorkshire, was cleared of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Hannan following a trial earlier this year, but convicted on a majority verdict of the lesser charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The defendant admitted that he punched the paramedic four times, but claimed it was in self-defence after he was attacked first.

Heslop was said to have got out of his taxi and flung open the ambulance door after becoming irate at not being allowed enough room to pass Mr Hannan's vehicle in the one-way Castle Terrace, in the town, in the early hours of January 8.

Mr Hannan said he feared he would be killed and described Heslop as being like a raging bull during the attack, which caused him to be off work sick for three months.

Teesside Crown Court Recorder Matthews said the incident must have been terrifying.

She described it as an episode of road rage in which there was no evidence that Heslop had been provoked.

"Thankfully, there was not a patient on board the ambulance as that would have been an aggravated feature. However, people were in the course of their public duty.

"Public servants must be protected," she said.