Man, 77, slapped traffic warden and threatened to ‘lump’ her

A 77-year-old man was caught on body-cam footage assaulting and threatening to “lump” a female traffic warden because a pay-and-display machine rejected his coins.

Stephen Doughty flew into a rage at Seven Stars car park in Welshpool, Powys, when he thought he would get a ticket from Wendy Williams.

Welshpool Magistrates’ Court was shown footage from last November of Doughty repeatedly slapping Williams’ hand and telling her she was “doing a scum job”.

He threatened that it would be the “last ticket” she handed out if she gave him one.

Doughty, of Little Henfaes Drive, Welshpool, admitted assault by beating and was fined £500. He was also ordered to pay Williams £200 compensation.

The attack happened when Williams checked her handheld device, which confirmed Doughty had not bought a £2.50 pay-and-display ticket.

When Williams approached him, Doughty told her he was waiting for his partner, and then became agitated. He got out of the car and walked aggressively towards her.

Retired lorry driver Doughty slapped Williams’ hand as she used a handheld device, and told her she was “doing a scum job”, pointed at her face and warned her to “watch it” before slapping her hand again.

Williams told him his actions amounted to an assault to which Doughty responded to with further abuse.

He called her a “nuisance” and told her to go away before returning to his car.

“Do you want me to lump you now?” he said to her.

“I’ll thump you straight in the gob.”

Body-worn footage shown in court then captured a civilian employee of Dyfed-Powys Police challenging Doughty.

“Don’t do that. Don’t put your hands on her,” he said.

“I saw that. Apologise. She’s on her own doing her job.”

Helen Tench, prosecuting, said the assault had a “detrimental impact” on Williams.

In a police interview, Doughty said he had become frustrated because the machine would not accept coins, adding that police were “more interested in ripping off a pensioner”.

Robert Hanratty, defending, said Doughty, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, accepted responsibility for his behaviour.

“He will be the first to admit that when he gets agitated, he does swear,” he said.

Hanratty added that the Probation Service recognised he suffers from anxiety.

“He very much regrets this incident. She was doing her job, and she puts up with a lot of stick.

“Unfortunately, he chose to vent his frustration on Ms Williams.”

Probation officer Julian Davies said Doughty became “very frustrated” when money repeatedly fell out of the machine and felt the warden was being dismissive.

“He deeply regrets his actions and didn’t mean to assault the warden,” he said.

The court heard Doughty has two previous convictions for battery and threatening behaviour.

Doughty was also ordered to pay a £200 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs, bringing the total to £985.