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Friday, 31 May, 2002, 15:44 GMT 16:44 UK

Race charge man saved from jail

A recruitment consultant who attacked a Muslim taxi driver has escaped jail.

Joshua Pegg's Jewish employer assured London's Southwark Crown Court that, despite his behaviour when he attacked the taxi driver and called him a "bin Laden", he was not racist.

Pegg, 26, from Kennington, south London, was ordered to do 150 hours of community service.

He attacked Mustapha Chartaoui in October last year after the taxi driver had explained he had finished his work for the evening and refused to give him a lift.

The court heard that the drunken recruitment consultant had followed his victim as he tried to escape, shouting abuse, spitting and throwing punches through an open window.

But Pegg's employer, Russell White, said the incident was a "spur of the moment" affair.

"He would not work with us if he were racist. We are Jewish," Mr White said.

Pegg was also ordered to pay his victim £500.

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