A TRAFFIC warden was assaulted after issuing a ticket to a car which had parked on a taxi rank.

Blackburn magistrates heard David James Harris ran out of a nearby shop and remonstrated with the officer before driving a short distance.

But he stopped and went back and this time pushed the warden after shouting abuse at him.

Harris, 33, of Manchester Road, Accrington, pleaded guilty to assaulting Douglas Idiens.

He was made subject to community supervision for 12 months and ordered to pay £200 compensation.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Mr Idiens worked as a civilian enforcement officer for Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.

He was on duty on Church Street in Blackburn town centre when he booked the car which had been left on a taxi rank.

As he was issuing the ticket Harrison came running out of Smokers World on the opposite side of the road.

“Mr Idiens explained the ticket had already been issued and put it on the windscreen,” said Miss Allan. “The defendant drove a short distance before stopping and a second male came out of the shop. As he passed Mr Idiens he said, ‘you’ve had it’ before getting into the car.”

Harris then got out of the vehicle and went back to Mr Idiens and said he couldn’t issue the ticket because he hadn’t been parked for five minutes and the ticket wasn’t sealed.

“He came right into the warden’s face and then pushed him hard with his open hand, knocking his head back,” said Miss Allan.

Robin Phoenix, defending, said his client accepted he had behaved inappropriately. “He accepts he pushed him although he says he pushed him on the shoulder.”