Angeline Kim Sollitt, 44, and Michael John Arbouin, 40, were handed nine-month prison for the "unprovoked" and "malicious" attack on taxi driver Jagroop Singh, 'NTNews' reported. "For Sikhs, the head and the turban are sacred, they must not be touched or insulted in any way," Judge Stephen Southwood said.

The report said that Sollitt began verbally abusing Singh when picked them up at the Dinah Beach Yacht Club last October. "You are in Australia, mate, this is not your country. If you want to live in Australia, take this off," Sollitt told Singh, referring to his turban.

Singh kept driving but later Sollitt pulled his turban off, the report said. He attempted to radio in for help before Arbouin threw him to the ground and said, "You see what happens with your turban? Now I'm going to rip your hair off".

Commenting on the incident, Singh said: "I only care that these people insulted my religion."