The Army will take no action against a soldier who urged an armed sentry to shoot a taxi driver in a racist incident at St David's Barracks, Bicester.

James Charman, a private in 23 Pioneer Regiment based at Graven Hill, Bicester, racially abused Naveed Anjum.

When they arrived at the barracks after his 18th birthday party, Charman refused to pay Mr Anjum and then urged an armed sentry to shoot him.

The sentry, who was unaware of what had been happening, cocked his rifle and pointed it at Mr Anjum, before a passing corporal took charge and ordered the sentry to make his weapon safe.

Charman, 18, pleaded guilty to racial aggravation causing fear of provocation and violence, at Banbury Magistrates' Court on November 2. He appeared before Oxford Crown Court yesterday, where he was sentenced to community service.

Afterwards, Ministry of Defence spokesman Karen Daly said Charman had already been punished by the courts and the army would take no further action over the incident.

Mr Anjum, a driver for Alpha Cars, of Bicester, who was not in court, criticised the sentence afterwards, saying: "He got away with it. If it had been the other way round I am sure I would be behind bars now.

"I grew up in this country and I have seen this sort of rubbish before from courts.

Charman was returning with two other soldiers to St David's Barracks from a trip to London to celebrate his birthday.

Paul Reid, prosecuting, told the court Charman had caused trouble at Marylebone station earlier in the evening.

On his return to Bicester, Charman and the other soldiers caught a taxi from Market Square to St David's Barracks.

The soldiers asked the driver, Mr Anjum, to stop at a garage.

Mr Reid said: "This is where Charman started to become racially abusive. Mr Anjum tried to get him out of the taxi and his coat was torn during the incident."

Mr Anjum then took them to the barracks, where Charman continued to racially abuse him and repeatedly told the sentry to shoot the taxi driver.

Mr Anjum took two weeks off work due to stress caused by the incident.

Charman was previously been banned from driving for a year and fined £60 for being drunk and disorderly.

Peter Ross, defending, said Charman was a satisfactory soldier whose sergeant, Hugh McIntosh, was black and had never received racial abuse from Charman.

Mr Ross said Charman's problems stemmed from drink.

He added: "He knows he has a problem but if this is addressed then the army believe he can make a worthwhile soldier in the future."

Sentencing, Judge Andrew Burrows, told Charman: "You racially abused that taxi driver appallingly more than once and your behaviour means that I could send you to jail today.

"I want you to think about how you have made that taxi driver feel. The fact that you were drunk at the time does not matter."

The judge sentenced Charman to 80 hours' community service and a two-year rehabilitation order to try and combat his drinking problems.

He was also ordered to pay £300 compensation to Mr Anjum.