A ROW in a York supermarket car park escalated into a brawl inside the store, the city's crown court was told.

It heard that taxi driver Shaun Malcolm Hugo nearly knocked a teenager over as he drove in the car park at the Tesco store at Askham Bar while using a mobile phone.

Prosecutor Nicholas Ralph said that after the 17-year-old youth's father, John Gascoigne, called Hugo a name, the taxi man confronted the father inside the superstore, pushed him into a clothes rack, and punched Mr Gascoigne's son, James, in the face.

Hugo had objected to Mr Gascoigne using a swear word within the hearing of his (Hugo's) children.

But Judge David Bryant told him: "I hope on mature reflection you will realise that your behaviour in front of your children was far more reprehensible than any language used in front of them.

"You indulged in this sort of brawl, particularly in a supermarket where no doubt women and children were around. It was appalling behaviour."

Hugo, 37, of Leven Road, Dringhouses, York, pleaded guilty to a public order offence and was fined £300. Mr McKone said his annual income was £9,000 after taxi expenses were deducted.

Mr Ralph said the incident began on June 24, just after Mr Gascoigne, his wife and son had got out of their car in the superstore's car park for a family shopping trip.

Mr Gascoigne was concerned by the driving of Hugo, who appeared to be talking on a mobile phone, and confronted him after he got out of his taxi.

"That was careless," he told the taxi man. "You nearly knocked my son over."

But Hugo responded that he had been nowhere near James Gascoigne, and after an exchange of words Hugo walked off. As he did so, Mr Gascoigne made an insulting remark about Hugo to his wife and son.

Both families went into the store, where Hugo was aggressive towards the Gascoignes in the upstairs clothing area of the store.

Concerned for his family's safety, Mr Gascoigne held up his hands to show he didn't want a physical confrontation, but Hugo pushed him in the chest backwards into a rack of clothing.

James tried to help his father and was punched in the face. The two Gascoignes suffered minor injuries.

Mr McKone said Hugo bitterly regretted his actions. He had no previous convictions.

Updated: 08:45 Monday, December 20, 2004