A passenger punched a taxi driver in the face and threatened to "kill him stone dead" in a row over a fare, a court has heard.
Jack Whitbread told the terrified cabbie he was a "gypsy boy with a family of five million" and the driver would be dead before the end of the night.
Swansea Crown Court heard the incident has left the taxi driver frightened for his safety, and unsure about whether he wants to continue in the business.
Brian Simpson, prosecuting, said in the early hours of May 6 last year Whitbread approached a waiting cab in Castle Square in Haverfordwest and asked to be taken to Pembroke.
A fare of £30 was agreed - and paid in advance - and Whitbread sat himself in the front passenger seat of the car.
However, as they got to Pembroke Whitbread said he wanted to be taken on to nearby Monkton.
The court heard the cabbie said he wanted an extra £5 to take him to the new destination.
Mr Simpson said Whitbread began "badgering" the cabbie to drive the extra distance, then punched him in the face and began issuing threats to kill him.
The prosecutor said the passenger gave the driver two options - drive him to Monkton or be killed.
The taxi driver did as he was told but then, when Whitbread ordered him to drive down a dark lane, he refused to go any further.
The court heard Whitbread punched the man in the face again and told him he would "kill him stone dead", and get his brothers to sort him out telling him "you won't go home tonight".
When told the conversation was being recorded, Whitbread said: "I'm a gypsy boy, I don't give a f***. I've got five million family. Take me back to Monkton or I will kill you."
Further threats were issued before the cabbie grabbed his mobile phone and fled the car.
The defendant went after him, chasing him and grabbing him by the arm but when Whitbread realised the driver was on the phone to the police he made-off into the night.
The court heard the defendant was identified when police "tracked back" and checked CCTV from the start of the taxi ride in Havefordwest.
The 28-year-old was subsequently picked out by the cabbie in an identification process.
He gave "no comment" interviews to officers.
The court heard details of a brief statement from the cabbie in which he the Monkton attack was the second-such incident he had suffered, and the experience had left him feeling threatened and scared.
He said he was a dad of two young children, and was unsure whether he wanted to carry on behind the wheel.
Whitbread, of Castle Quarry, Monkton, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery when he appeared in the dock. A charge of making threats to kill was denied, and allowed to lay on file.
The court heard he has two previous convictions, one for burglary and one for drink-driving.
A probation report into the defendant said he had been drunk on the night in question, and could remember little of what had happened but was "shocked" at what he had done.
Stuart John, for Whitbread, said his client was on medication for anxiety, and was remorseful for what happened.
He said the defendant was now in employment, and would be able to pay compensation to his victim if he retained his liberty.
Recorder Carl Harrison sentenced the defendant to 28 months in prison.
