A PASSENGER was punched and robbed of his mobile phone by an unlicensed cabbie.

The 26-year-old man hailed the unlicensed mini-cab in Shoe Lane, in the City of London, after a night out.

The cabbie dropped the victim near to his home in Centurion Way, Purfleet, but a row broke out after the driver tried to charge the man more than the amount they had agreed.

As the victim argued with him the driver grabbed him and pushed him up against a nearby wall.

Both men fell to the floor and the driver punched the victim before searching his pockets, helping himself to a Nokia mobile phone and fleeing.

Bill Stock, police spokesman, said: "We are keen to catch the culprit responsible before he strikes again.

"However, with the Christmas season approaching, we would also like to use this incident to remind partygoers not to get into unlicensed cabs."

The taxi driver is described as a black man, aged in his mid-40s and around 6ft 1in tall.

He was heavily built, with short black hair and a three-inch scar stretching from his eye to his cheek on the left side of his face.

Witnesses to the attack, which happened at 3am on Saturday, can contact police at Grays on 01375 391212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.