A MAN who assaulted a council traffic warden after being challenged for misusing a disabled person’s Blue Badge has been ordered to pay over £600.
City magistrates heard the council officer was carrying out routine checks in Gosford Street car park when he suspected that a vehicle was falsely displaying a disabled person’s Blue Badge and asked the driver if he could inspect it.
The driver, Mr Abu Tahir, aged 28, of Banks Road, Birmingham, refused and became physically aggressive, punching the officer several times to the head and then wrestling him to the ground.
The officer was helped by passers-by, including two paramedics who managed to restrain the driver until police arrived to make an arrest.
Mr Tahir was found guilty of assault when he appeared before city magistrates on December 15 and was ordered to undertake 80 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12 month Community Order and to pay a fine and compensation totalling £650.
Councillor Pervez Akhtar, deputy cabinet member for policing and equalities, said: “We will not tolerate any violence or aggression towards our staff.
“Our officers are there for the benefit of the public and offences such as illegal parking or misusing a Blue Badge have an effect on others and need to be challenged.
“This officer was going about his duties politely and professionally when he was viciously assaulted.
“We know, in Coventry, the vast majority of people who meet our officers are friendly and courteous, but unfortunately there is a very small minority who feel bullying and aggression is the answer.
“This court case shows we will always take action to protect our staff.”
