A THREATENING passenger tried to strangle a taxi driver during an early hours terror journey, a jury was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard Mohammed Ramzan, who had picked up two fares in Burnley town centre, was told he was going to be killed - and believed he was living his last moments.

He was so frightened he later abandoned his cab and ran off after managing to escape his attacker's grasp.

And Mr Ramzan still had marks on his neck when he was seen by a doctor 12 hours later.

But Anthony Hyatt, who the prosecution argue was responsible for the attack, told police he had never laid a finger on the alleged victim.

Hyatt, 33, of Bowness Road, Padiham, denies making a threat to kill and assault causing actual bodily harm, last July 13.

John Marsh, prosecuting, told the court Mr Ramzan picked up two men who wanted to go to Padiham.

The front seat passenger, allegedly the defendant, said he did not have enough money and the man in the back got a £20 note from a house on Gawthorpe Street.

The taxi set off again and suddenly Hyatt asked Mr Ramzan: "Why do you hate Jews?"

The alleged victim said he didn't hate anybody but the defendant then started to wave his arms about and threatened to smash up the cab and kill the driver.

The defendant then grabbed the ignition keys.

As the back seat passenger handed over the £7 fare, Hyatt was yelling to the driver: "I want to kill you. I am going to do you in."

Hyatt is then alleged to have ordered his friend from the taxi, went to the driver's door, abused Mr Ramzan and got hold of him as the cabbie shouted to him to let him go.

The prosecutor said that Hyatt then pushed Mr Ramzan into his seat, grabbed his neck and started to strangle him, asking him if he felt pain.

Mr Marsh said the defendant squeezed again, adding: "Mr Ramzan thought he was not going to go home that evening, that this was his last night."

Mr Ramzan then managed to struggle free, abandoned his cab and ran off.

He was chased by Hyatt, threatening to get him but returned to his taxi when the coast was clear.

Mr Marsh said Hyatt claimed he had never laid a finger on Mr Ramzan and that nobody assaulted him.

The defendant claimed he couldn't assault anybody as he had brittle bone problems in his hands and ran the risk of shattering his bones.

(Proceeding)