Gareth Paul Davey, 28, of Cardinal Crescent, turned on the two men after they intervened to stop him racially abusing an Asian taxi driver in Leeds city centre in the early hours of June 1 last year.

Davey racially abused one of the interveners, who was also Asian, before launching an assault during which he "floored" the pair with a headbutt, punches and kicks, then bit and strangled one of them whilst they were down.

Davey was jailed for three years at Leeds Crown Court on February 1 this year after pleading guilty to racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm and inflicting grievous bodily harm.

At London's Criminal Appeal Court, Davey conceded his behaviour was "disgusting", but still asked Mr Justice MacKay and Judge John Saunders to cut his sentence.

The court heard the two men, who were partners, were on their way home from a nightclub when they intervened, upon hearing Davey racially abuse an Asian taxi driver.

Davey then turned on them, abusing one man racially before inviting them both to fight him.

He then launched a sustained attack which left both men with cuts and bruises and one with a broken finger which required surgery.

In written submissions to the Appeal Court, Davey told the judges that he is not usually a violent man but "was drunk and showed bad judgment".

But Mr Justice MacKay refused him permission to appeal, saying: "The sentencing judge regarded these as serious offences aggravated by the racial element.

"The appellant had been trying to strangle one of the complainants and this attack arose out of the racial abuse of a taxi driver.

"The violence which followed was serious, occurred in a public place, and was perpetrated by an appellant who was drunk. He floored both the young men.

"Such behaviour is prevalent. A deterrent sentence was justified and this sentence was severe, but not outside the appropriate bracket.

"This application is rejected," the judge concluded.