CAB drivers have put a “blanket ban” on all fares in and out of Penhill until a fellow cabbie’s racist attacker is shopped by residents or nabbed by cops.

The ban, which has already been confirmed by a majority of Swindon’s 159 black cab drivers, would mean that only contract, council and social service calls, would run into the neighbourhood.

The move comes after cabbie Rawinder “Rob” Sahota was subjected to an attack and a tirade of racist abuse, in Lacock Road, on Sunday morning – leaving him badly shaken and afraid for his safety.

“Our problem is not with Penhill, and this may be unfair on the residents – many of whom are our drivers,” said a father-of-two, who lives near Penhill and wants to remain nameless.

“But we will not stand for this sort of behaviour. We will not visit the neighbourhood again until the good people of Penhill come forward and shop these attackers.

“People talk in small communities and I know someone knows who committed this attack.

“We refuse to become like Bristol or Reading where this is a common occurrence. We are a tightly knit group of cabbies and this is a small town.”

The 41-year-old added: “Why should this poor guy, who is only trying to provide for his family and do his job, be beaten like this?

“I quickly went around yesterday and asked drivers if they would be up for this and before it was even out of my mouth every cabbie said he would be.

“I want to stress this is not against Penhill. We would have carried it out anywhere.

“I believe this move will help us work together as a community to stand up to these thugs and say ‘we will not stand for this’.”

The injured cabbie, Mr Sahota, said he first became embroiled in the argument after his passenger racially abused him.

But when he got out of the cab to remonstrate with him, the man punched him.

And although another passenger, who kept yelling – ‘stop it I am pregnant’ – tried to stop the fight, it carried on resulting in a number of punches and kicks being rained down on Mr Sahota.

He said: “I have been attacked before and I am 59-years-old it is much scarier for me now that I am older. I have to work until I am 65 for my four kids, but now I wonder whether it is safe or not.

“I know people from Penhill and they are lovely but we cannot allow this to go on, it is far too damaging to the man who has been attacked.”

Inspector Adrian Burt said: “Our investigation is ongoing and is being dealt with by our Local Crime team who specialise in violent crimes such as this.

“We are currently conducting extensive enquiries around CCTV, house to house visits in the area and are progressing a number of leads.

“I would like to reiterate our appeal for anyone who knows the identity of the offender or who has information on the assault to contact us.

“Public safety is our priority and since the start of the year there has been a decrease in the number of violent crimes in the Penhill area. We believe that this was an isolated incident and I want the people of Penhill to know that we conducting a thorough and detailed investigation.”