Parking attendant hit by angry driver

By Staff Reporter

Last updated 10:28, Sunday, 18 May 2008

A CAR parking attendant was smacked in the face by a man he ticketed for wrongly parking in a disabled space.

Gordon Muir needed two stitches in his lip after irate Malcolm Short hit him in the mouth in a revenge attack two days after receiving a ticket. Short, 42, who is not disabled, parked his car in the disabled bay at Tesco’s Rosehill store when he went to pick up a prescription on January 8.

Mr Muir told Short he couldn’t park there because he didn’t have a disabled badge on his car.

Short, of Milbourne Street, Carlisle, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm when he appeared before magistrates in Carlisle .

Prosecutor Becky McGregor said: “Mr Muir asked Short what he was doing parking in a disabled bay and he said he was going to pick up a prescription.

“Mr Muir told Short he couldn’t park there as he didn’t have a disabled badge. Short went into the shop and Mr Muir put a ticket on his windscreen.

“Short went back to Tesco on January 11 and went up to Mr Muir. He had the ticket in his hand and he said: “Remember me? I don’t want that.”

“He tried to thrust the ticket into Mr Muir’s jacket but he backed off and then he tried to stuff it into his bum bag.

“He then punched Mr Muir in the mouth.

“Mr Muir said he was going to call the police and Short tried to grab the phone off him. Mr Muir was on the phone to the police when Short drove off.”

The attack was caught on CCTV and Short was traced by police. He was arrested and interviewed and was unco-operative with the police.

Despite pleading guilty Short told magistrates: “I’m not saying it did happen and I’m not saying it didn’t. I have no recollection of it but I’ll hold my hands up and say yes.”

Mr Muir, 57, told the News & Star: “I was shocked when it happened as I was just about to explain the appeals procedure to him.

“He smacked me in the mouth. It was a nasty experience and he was very verbal. I think he wanted me to retaliate.

“People think when they spend money (in the store) they can park where they want.

“I had to go to hospital and I couldn’t eat for a few days.”

Magistrates adjourned the case until June 6 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared but told Short they were not ruling out custody.