A LOWER Gornal man has been handed a suspended jail sentence for knocking out a parking warden in Dudley.

Jason Robert Pearce, aged 43, was warned twice about parking on double yellow lines in while he waited for chips before being issued with a parking ticket.

Pearce then chased the warden through the town centre and verbally abusing him and punching him in the back of the head.

Dudley Magistrates Court heard that Pearson, of The Straits, pursued the warden and his colleague in his car through Dudley.

Pearson got out of his car in Wolverhampton Street, ran up behind the warden and threw a punch to the back of the man’s head, knocking the warden to the ground and leaving him briefly unconscious.

Pearson then ran off back to his car. An ambulance was called and the warden was treated at the scene for a cut to the back of his head, swelling and shock.

Pearson pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, 180 hours community service, a three-month driving ban and told to pay £80 surcharge to victim services, £85 costs and £400 to the victim.

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, Dudley cabinet member for transportation, said: “This was an appalling attack on one of our officers who was simply doing his job.

“The offender was given the opportunity on two occasions to move his car which was parked on double yellow lines but not only chose to ignore the warnings but he then went on to assault the officer.

“We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour towards our parking wardens and we welcome the sentence the magistrate passed down.”