SMITH:VAN DRIVER THREW HOT COFFEE IN TRAFFIC WARDEN’S FACE

A van driver who hurled scalding coffee into a traffic warden’s face in a row over a parking ticket has been handed a £700 court bill.

Russell Smith, 49, threw two boiling drinks over Joel Zagbayou after he was caught pulled up in a bus stop in Fulham, southwest London.

Mr Zagbayou asked Smith to move on and was told to ‘f*ck off’, Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court heard today (thurs).

Smith then went into a nearby cafe and bought two cups of coffee.

When he came back out to find he had been given a parking ticket he launched the beverages at the parking officer and drove away.

The victim was taken to hospital with burns on his face and neck.

Smith was ordered to pay a total of £713 in compensation, fine and court costs.

Magistrate Greg Thomson told him: ‘You were lucky in this case you did not do more damage.

‘Throwing hot coffee causes serious harm, especially when thrown in the face.

‘The court also takes a dim view of people being attacked in the course of their work, however annoyed you may be about them doing that job.’

The incident took place in Kings Road at 7.55am on December 4 last year.

Prosecutor Tom Gill said: ‘The traffic warden, Joel Zagbayou, was working on the Kings Road at 7.55am when he saw a van parked in a bus stop.

‘When he asked the defendant to move on he was told to ‘f*ck off’, at which point the defendant then went into a nearby coffee shop and bought some coffee.

‘As Mr Zagbayou placed a ticket on the vehicle Smith came out and threw both cups of coffee in his hands at the complainant, got back in his van and drove towards Fulham.

‘His vehicle registration was traced while the complainant was taken to Chelsea and Westminster hospital, suffering from superficial scalding on the right side of his neck.’

Smith initially claimed the coffees not his and that he ‘saw something fly past him and hit the traffic warden’.

He insisted he came out of the shop to see four or five people shouting abuse at the warden.

But he later admitted throwing the hot liquid into Mr Zagbayou’s face.

Smith told the court: ‘I completely admit now to what I have done and am extremely sorry to the bloke I injured.

‘I would rather this was all dealt with here and now rather than carry on through to the crown court and waste more public time.’

Smith, of Plymouth Road, Canning Town, East London, previously pleaded guilty to common assault.

He was fined £525, ordered to pay £100 in compensation to the traffic warden, £35 costs and a £53 victim surcharge.
ENDS