Man, 21, spared jail for attacking parking warden (From This Is Local London)

Man, 21, spared jail for attacking parking warden as figures show extent of attacks on parking officials in Hounslow

11:00am Friday 26th March 2010 in Where I Live By Joanna Kilvington

More than 20 traffic wardens have been assaulted or abused on the job over the past year in Hounslow, it has emerged.

The figure was revealed as a 21-year-old was spared jail for attacking a parking official while shouting “I’m going to break your head”, and smashing equipment worth hundreds of pounds.

Jack Davies was given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for a year, at Feltham Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

After the sentencing, Hounslow Council revealed there had been 21 assaults against parking wardens since last April. All of the incidents were reported to police.

A council spokesman said: “If police are unable to take forward proceedings, we will always look to take civil action against the perpetrators ourselves.

“Of these we have had seven prosecutions.”

The spokesman said successful prosecutions included those for several serious assaults and a racially-aggravated attack.

One man was detained in a mental health unit after an attack on two officials. He added that the council had several prosecutions ongoing.

He also stressed parking wardens who were victims of assault were offered counselling and all were given training on how to deal with aggressive behaviour.

Feltham Magistrates’ Court heard how parking warden Vimal Dutt spotted Davies’ car parked without a ticket in Chiswick High Road, on October 9, last year.

Suqi Gill, prosecuting, said: “Mr Davies ran over saying it was his and he had only left it for one minute.”

The warden explained to Davies a fine would not be issued if he moved the car or bought a parking ticket and Davies agreed.

But after getting back into his car, Davies sat there for several minutes without showing any signs of moving and so Mr Dutt continued to write out the fine.

Mrs Gill said: “As he approached the car Mr Davies got out and became angry and started yelling ‘I’m going to break your head. I’m not joking go away’.”

“He pushed the warden in the chest several times and kicked at him.”

Mr Dutt called his supervisor for assistance but Davies grabbed the radio, worth about £300, and threw it across the road.

He also grabbed a handheld camera Mr Dutt was using to take a picture of his attacker and dropped it before a member of the public intervened and Davies made off in his car.

Davies pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour, assault, and two counts of criminal damage.

The court heard Davies, who had a previous conviction for domestic abuse, had expressed remorse for his actions but district judge Stephen Day said: “If you choose to lay into a public service person because you object to them you really deserve all that’s coming to you.”

Davies, of Shepherd’s Bush, was ordered to pay £300 to Hounslow Council and £100 to his victim.