Jailed: Driver left Dudley traffic warden 'for dead' after being booked

Near disaster struck moments after Anthony Harris put the ticket on the Mercedes driven by Mohammed Nazabuth, explained Miss Amy Jackson, prosecuting.

The 30-year-old driver – who had stopped because he wanted something to eat – ran over, jumped into the 4x4 that was parked illegally in Castle Street, Dudley and drove off as the warden was taking a picture of the vehicle.

Mr Harris was hit on a leg by the Mercedes and knocked into the bonnet when the vehicle suddenly moved forward before Nazabuth ordered him to get out of the way because he was in a hurry, continued the prosecutor.

The warden was then hit in the chest by a wing mirror of the car as the motorist drove off without checking the condition of the injured man on September 18.

The incident had dented the confidence of Mr Harris and left him seriously considering a change of career, concluded Miss Jackson.

Mr Richard Butcher, defending, claimed Nazabuth had sat in the car for a short time waiting for the warden to complete his business before leaving but conceded: "He accepts his vehicle came into contact with the man. He was not trying to avoid the parking ticket.

"He failed to appreciate the warden had to take a photograph and mercifully the injuries the man suffered were of the lighter kind."

The defendant, from Crabbe Street, Stourbridge – who works as a delivery driver in the family butchery business and had several previous convictions, including one for wounding – pleaded guilty to causing bodily harm by wanton and furious driving.

He was jailed for 10 months and banned from driving for a year by Recorder Ben Mills, who told him: "This must have been utterly terrifying for the traffic warden.

"You sped off up the road without a care for his well being, leaving him shaken, dazed and hurt.

"You just left him for dead. He was just doing his job and people like him, who are working for the public, need to be protected by the courts."