William Aitken hurled abuse at Swaffham parking warden and threw ticket in his face

A 40-year-old motorcyclist who became enraged when given a parking ticket ripped it up and threw it in the warden’s face.

William Aitken left the scene, but soon returned, shouting abuse at the ticket officer while waving an out-of-date blue badge in his direction.

Aitken’s outburst led him to Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he admitted using threatening words to cause alarm or distress.

Prosecutor Nicola Lamb told magistrates that the incident took place in the Swaffham Market Place car park on March 10.

Aitken, of Captains Close in Swaffham, returned to his motorbike to see that he had received a ticket, and went to challenge the officer who gave it to him.

He began threatening the ticket officer, before ripping up the ticket and throwing the shreds in the officer’s face before leaving the scene.

The officer sat in his car, fearing for his safety, and Aitken returned, banging on the window.

He was waving an expired blue badge at the officer, and the police were then called.

In mitigation, solicitor George Sorrell told the court that Aitken was having a “bad day”.

“He had gone to the pharmacy to get some painkillers,” he said.

“He was enraged by this parking ticket; he had a blue badge, but it was unfortunately out of date.

“Many people have reason to go and get medication, but nobody comes out and throws abuse at a public servant.

“At a later date, he saw the warden and apologised for his actions.”

When sentencing Aitken, magistrates described the incident as an “unpleasant attack on a man doing his job”.

Aitken was fined £200 and ordered to pay £100 in compensation to the parking warden.

He will also pay a victim surcharge of £80 and court costs of £85.