Three drunken, racist yobs who were involved in fight with Asian taxi drivers at Radlett railway station have been jailed.

Borehamwood residents Carl Fallon and William Woods, and Ryan Finch from Harlow, were told by Judge John Plumstead on Tuesday that they behaved like "violent bullies".

Finch hit taxi driver Nusar Hafeez on the head with a piece of wooden fence, causing a large cut, St Albans crown court was told. Sadly, Mr Hafeez died last September from meningitis. The attack was not linked to his death.

Prosecutor Alan Richards said trouble broke out on the night of August 29-30, 2011 at the railway station when one of the three defendants urinated against a taxi waiting outside.

When the drivers objected and refused to take the three to Borehamwood, a row broke out. One driver was heard to say: "Why are you doing this to our cars?"

The three defendants argued with the group of about ten drivers, subjecting them to racist abuse, the court heard. A passer-by escorted the three away but they picked up two metre planks of wood from a broken fence and returned.

Mr Hafeez was seen to back off as Finch moved towards him and brought the wood down on his head, said Mr Richards. The blow caused a large crescent-shaped injury five centimetres in diameter.

The three were arrested. As they were taken away, Fallon was heard to say: "Why don't you arrest the taxi drivers? Probably because they are P*kis.”

Fallon, 31, of Newark Green; Woods, 34, of Buckingham Road; and Finch, 27, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated public disorder. Finch also pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm.

Finch had 30 convictions for 61 offences. It included an attack on a Chinese man on a bus who he had called a "Chink" and others for robbery and attempted vehicle taking.

Fallon had 21 convictions for 45 offences, including for GBH. Woods also had convictions for assault, shoplifting, battery and affray.

For Finch, Charles Judge said when released from prison he wants to move from the area to be with his partner who has given birth to his child while he has been in custody.

Gary Willmott, defending Fallon, who is a self-employed plumber, said he was remorseful and regretted his action on the night.

For Woods, Nermina Abdel Sayed said he was under the influence of alcohol and apologises for his behaviour. Although he picked up a fence post, he did not use violence, she said.

Jailing Finch for 20 months and Fallon and Woods for nine months each, Judge Plumstead said they "were three drunken men with bad attitudes.”

He said: "This was the behaviour of violent bullies."