A SERIAL offender, who knifed a Southampton cabbie after refusing to pay for his fare, was today handed a 10 year jail term.

Nicholas Jeffrey, 27, thrust a carving knife into the calf of taxi driver Kuldip Sahota who had taken him from outside a pub in Above Bar to the central station.

When the victim asked for the £5 fare, Jeffrey thought he was being discourtous in not saying 'please'.

Mr Sahota did not press for the cash and simply asked him to get out of his vehicle.

Instead Jeffrey told him, "I'm getting my tool out" and putting his hand into a back pocket, produced a carving knife, making jabbing motions towards the cabbie.

Prosecutor Simon Edwards said Mr Sahota then stood on his seat and kicked out sideways kung fu style to defend himself but Jeffrey stabbed him in the calf, the blade pentetrating the muscle.

He shouted for help and other drivers chased Jeffrey who was caught nearby and detained him until the police arrived.

The victim underwent surgery and needed "a multitude" of stitches which remained in place for 16 days and he was off for several weeks.

Jeffrey, of Harwood Close, Bridgemary, Gosport, pleaded guilty at Southampon Crown Court to wounding with intent and possessing a bladed article in a public place.

Judge Peter Ralls QC said the pre-sentence report regarded Jeffrey as dangerous and he posed a high risk of causing serious harm to the public.

He then jailed him for six years with a four year extended sentence. telling him "It is important that people carrying out a public service should be protected. You targeted a lone man doing a public service."

Jeffrey was said to have 24 previous convictions for 57 offences which included robbery, casing grevious bodily harm with intent, causing actual bodily harm, and battery.