POLICE investigating an alleged threat of assault in Braintree said they are treating the incident as a hate crime.

Taxi driver Ramesh 'Ram' Krishnan told the Braintree and Witham Times he was assaulted by a group of people on skateboards on January 24, near the taxi rank in Braintree.

He said one of the skateboards went under his car and his rear car tyre went over it.

Mr Krishnan said the group had allegedly hit the car bonnet, tried to hit the windscreen and threw a skateboard against one of the doors.

He has been quoted £650 for repairs to his vehicle.

Mr Krishnan said: “It is like racially abusing someone. They were racially abusing me and threatening behaviour towards a taxi driver who was doing his job.

“It’s started to get into my head.

“I don’t know what motivated them to start all this.

“If this was my personal car, it would be a totally different story.

“I’ve got to keep quiet and keep calm.”

A police spokesman said: “We are investigating an allegation of a threat of assault reported to have taken place in New Road, Braintree, on Wednesday, January 24.

“The victim reported that he was threatened by one of a group of five people on skateboards after one of the skateboards went under his car as he was driving. 

“He also reported that his car was criminally damaged.

“We are treating this as a hate crime.”

As a self-employed taxi driver, Mr Krishnan said he stands to lose two days’ work while the repairs take place.

He has been a taxi driver for 15 years and said he is “really shook up” by what happened.

Mr Krishnan said he has since seen the skateboarders return to the taxi rank and even take pictures of the taxi’s damage.

Witnesses or anyone with information is urged to contact the police, quoting incident 756 of January 24.

You can submit a report on their website, use their online live chat service or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0900 555111.