A man who launched an aggressive attack on a traffic warden has been jailed for 18 months.
Shamal Asaad, 30, of Kipling Court, Peterborough was handed the sentence at Peterborough Crown Court after being found guilty of grievous bodily harm and two counts of criminal damage.
The court heard that the incident occurred on September 1 last year (2015) when a male Civil Enforcement Officer was on foot patrol in Cromwell Road when he noticed Asaad’s vehicle was parked in a residents only space without a permit displayed.
As he began documenting the offence, Asaad appeared and told him he would move his vehicle but failed to do so in an adequate period of time and was issued with a penalty charge notice.
Asaad appeared once again and verbally abused the victim before following him in his vehicle to Hankey Street and Gladstone Street where he parked in another contravening space.
When the victim went to point out the offence, he was met with further confrontation and taken to the ground where he was put in a headlock. The victim sustained two breaks to his left leg.
When sentencing Judge Cooper said the sentence was not suspended because a deterrent was needed for defendants who are aggressive to people carrying out public functions in a vulnerable position.
In a statement the victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “The incident was one of the most terrifying of my life and there are moments that will remain with me forever.
“I hope that my experience and the sentence handed to my attacker sends a warning to others who think it is acceptable to abuse civil enforcement officers and any other profession which works directly with the public.”
Detective Constable Josh Coe said: “The defendant lost all sense of perspective when he aggressively confronted and used violence towards the victim who issued him a ticket, resulting in the victim breaking his leg in two places.
“This was a completely needless incident that has had a severe and ongoing impact on the victim’s work and personal life.
“The public must show due respect to the work of enforcement officers on the streets, doing a difficult job in a workplace always exposed to public view.”
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