Driver jailed after hitting traffic warden

A book salesman was starting a six-month prison sentence today after driving into a woman traffic warden when she gave him a £30 ticket.

George Robinson, 66, was described in court as "mild mannered". But after driving into the warden in a fit of rage, he told her: "You were determined to give me that f***ing ticket, you deserved that".

Robinson had left his Bedford van on yellow zig zag lines in Vicarage Lane, East Ham, while making a book delivery to Vicarage Primary School last December. He returned to find traffic warden Deborah Williams writing him a ticket for parking dangerously.

She described how an angry Robinson got into his van, revved his engine and drove into her as she placed the ticket under his windscreen wiper. He sped off, but was arrested later that day at his home in Veronica Close, Romford, after police traced him through his number plate, the court heard.

Robinson pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving and causing Miss Williams actual bodily harm, when he appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court yesterday.

He claimed she threw herself in front of the vehicle as he tried to drive off and that she was exaggerating by claiming her knee was hurt when the van hit her. The jury cleared Robinson of the second charge, but found him guilty of dangerous driving by a 10-2 majority.

Ms Maria Dineen, in mitigation, told the court that Robinson had no previous convictions. She said: "Many of his friends and acquaintances have taken the time to provide him with character references to put before the court. They consider him a calm and careful driver and hold him in very high regard."