Man fined for slapping parking attendant

A MAN who slapped a parking attendant on the back of his head, knocking his hat forward, has been fined and ordered to pay compensation.

The incident happened when the parking attendant sent to complain to the supervisor of a car rental firm about the aggressive attitude of one of his employees, a court heard today.

Sheriff Lilian Patrick, sitting in Edinburgh, was told the assailant, 44-year old Joe McCann, appeared to think this was funny, but his victim did not.

McCann of Muirhouse Grove, Edinburgh, was ordered to pay 38-year old Darren Sharp 200 compensation and fined 100 after admitting the assault in Picardy Place on August 22 last year.

Fiscal Depute, Neil Allan, said two cars were parked on double yellow lines outside the Hertz Car Rental premises.

Mr Sharp was issuing tickets and taking photographs when he was approached by McCann.

He, said Mr Allan, was aggressive and there was an argument. Mr Sharp went into the rental offices to complain to the supervisor. McCann followed him in and struck him on the back of the head.

"The accused seemed to think this was funny, but Mr Sharp was under no obligation to share that view" said the Fiscal.

Defence agent, Rachel McDougall, said McCann was employed by the rental company to move vehicles, which had been parked outside, into the garage. It was McCann's first job for ten years, said Ms McDougall, and after the argument, when the attendant went in to speak to the supervisor, McCann "panicked". He had now lost his job, but was looking for work.

Sheriff Patrick described the assault as a serious matter and added that those issuing parking tickets should not be subject to such outrageous behaviour.

She allowed McCann to start paying the compensation and fine in two months time at 10 a week, to give him time to find employment.