A STAB victim racially abused a French traffic warden in Worcester during a parking row, calling her an 'immigrant' and telling her to get back to her own country.

Lee Parker was challenged by a civil enforcement officer in Worcester after he parked in a loading bay and later on double yellow lines.

The 55-year-old admitted racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment against Melissa Marques at around 1pm on July 7 last year when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Thursday.

The court heard Parker had been out shopping with his wife in Worcester at the time - she had forgotten her debit card so he was looking for somewhere to park so he could draw money out of the bank and make the purchase.

Worcester News:

GUILTY: Lee Parker leaves Worcester Magistrates Court. Photo: James Connell

 

Eleanor Peart, prosecuting, said 'this matter is a hate crime' although Parker's solicitor, Fergus Maxwell, took issue with this definition.

Miss Peart said the officer had asked Parker to move the vehicle and he was 'immediately rude to her', telling her to 'shut up and move on' before he parked around the corner on double yellow lines, followed by the officer.

He went on to say: ""Who are you talking to? You're an immigrant. Where are you from you immigrant? Get out of the country."

A member of the public intervened on behalf of the traffic warden and was insulted using a homophobic slur. Parker also told him 'you're lucky there are people about' before driving off.

Ms Marques has since left the job, saying how she regularly had 'members of the public abuse her'. Parker did attend a voluntary police interview 'after numerous cancellations on his part'.

Worcester News:

"RUDE": Lee Parker called the traffic warden an immigrant and told her to get back to her own country. 

 

Miss Peart said: "When he did, he was confrontational, saying it was boring and a waste of time to him. He left and called the complainant an immigrant - not before squaring up to the officer and calling him a prat."

Fergus Maxwell, defending, said: "Just because an offence is racially aggravated, it does not necessarily mean it's a hate crime."

He said he understood the victim was French but that it was 'a generic comment using the word immigrant' rather than singling her out for her ethnicity.

"I don't think it's a hate crime" he said. He also said the member of the public 'took it upon himself to become involved in this exchange, swearing and using profanities, which this defendant doesn't'.

Mr Maxwell explained that '10 or 11 years ago he was the victim of a very serious attack which resulted in him ending up in ICU'.

He said Parker suffered from a significant stab wound and developed PTSD which could cause him to overreact. "He almost lost his life in a totally unprovoked attack" said Mr Maxwell.

Parker of Edgemond Avenue, Birmingham, was fined £200, ordered to pay compensation of £100, costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £34.