The taxi driver who held a knife to an American tourist's throat and threatened to cut his jugular vein has been jailed for three months.

Burnell Howard Cross questioned Senior Magistrate Will Francis why he was a "scapegoat'' after Mr. Francis said a sentence must be imposed to deter violence against tourists.

Cross, 56, of Scott's Hill Road, Sandys, was imprisoned for three months for holding a steak knife to Frank Farley's throat on July 5 last year at the Horseshoe Bay parking lot.

The tourist had struck Cross' cab while getting out of taxi driver Rupert Macdonald Williams' car.

Mr. Williams said Mr. Farley immediately apologised to Cross, but the enraged driver argued with the tourist, until they were separated by bystanders.

Mr. Francis said the main issue was whether he believed the testimony of Mr.

Williams compared to Cross'.

The magistrate added that Cross acknowledged that Mr. Farley apologised to him and that he became "extremely hostile'' while on the stand when talking about white people.

"Especially during the time when he was on the stand, where he was using profane language to the Crown counsel,'' Mr. Francis said. "Only when under cross examination did he say he brandished a plastic spoon.'' Mr. Francis also said that while taxi drivers are protected in the courts, the public, especially tourist must also be protected.

He told Cross: "I have no doubt Mr. Williams' testimony is a true and accurate account of what happened. Therefore I find you guilty on all counts.'' Mr. Francis also jailed Cross for one month for using offensive words, two months for threatening behaviour, and one month for assaulting Mr. Farley "while motivated with antipathy'' toward him because of his race and attempting to cause fear. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Prosecutor Larry Mussenden had asked for the prison sentence saying: "This is a very serious offence. It could have easily escalated into the most unhappy set of circumstances. A sentence should be imposed that should deter him.'' Cross maintained he did not intend to harm Mr. Farley and said no one protects taxi drivers from abusive and violent fares.

"I didn't go out to harm anyone,'' he continued. "I work long hours and I've been attacked and nobody helped me.

"You haven't seen the complainant. You haven't seen his attitude of contempt.

I feel I'm innocent. You're judging me.'' As two Policemen approached him to process him through to HM Prisons, Cross glared at Mr. Francis and said: "Why should you use me as a scapegoat?'' Mr. Francis did not reply.