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Motorist prosecuted for assault on Civil Enforcement Officer (18 January 2016)

Date: 18/01/2016
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Motorist prosecuted for assault on Civil Enforcement Officer

A motorist has been prosecuted, after he assaulted a Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO) in the London Borough of Bexley.

Craig Woodley, 36, of Lingfield Crescent in Falconwood pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm.

The incident took place near a primary school in Welling earlier this year, when the motorist head butted the Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO), who was in the process of issuing a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) to the vehicle which was parked on a yellow line.

The court heard that the CEO had previously advised Woodley that parking on a yellow zig zag school restriction was not permitted – and that a PCN would be issued.

Woodley moved the vehicle to another location in the same area, but parked on a yellow line.

When the CEO approached the vehicle and proceeded to issue a penalty notice, Woodley got out of the vehicle and assaulted the CEO, leaving him with injuries which included a broken nose.

At Bexley Magistrates' Court, Woodley was ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work and pay compensation of £1,000 to the Civil Enforcement Officer, as well as £85 in Crown Prosecution Service costs and £150 in court costs.

Deputy Leader of the London Borough of Bexley, Councillor Alex Sawyer, said:

“This was an unprovoked attack carried out in broad daylight in the presence of a child.

“We take these matters extremely seriously and simply will not tolerate any abuse of our staff or contractors who are going about their lawful business.

“The court clearly viewed this as serious, as can be seen in the sentence given – this prosecution should serve as a warning to any motorist who thinks they are above the law.”

Dieter Hering –Contract Account Manager for NSL, who deliver the service in partnership with the Council – added:

“NSL works very hard to support, train and equip our colleagues with the skills and qualifications they need to minimise these incidents.

“We use new technology, such as body worn video cameras, to ensure the actual course of events are fairly represented should a member of the public wish to appeal.

“We firmly believe it is wrong to abuse people who are delivering an important service of keeping traffic flowing and eliminating dangerous and inconsiderate parking outside schools.

“Nobody should be treated badly for doing their job.”

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