Man who threatened to stab Bradford parking warden fined
Mohammed Saqib Khan had shouted abuse at the warden after she ticketed his car for improper parking on Manville Terrace, near the University of Bradford.
A MAN who threatened to stab a traffic warden in the throat told a court “I don’t know how you expect me to care about something like this.”
Mohammed Saqib Khan had shouted abuse at the warden after she ticketed his car for improper parking on Manville Terrace, near the University of Bradford.
He called her a “c***” before making the threat from the seat of his car. The incident, which took place on September 25, was caught on the warden’s body camera.
Khan (31) of Radfield Drive was subsequently issued a £100 fine for breaching Bradford Council’s anti social driving Public Space Protection Order.
The order allows the Council to fine people for anti-social driving, which includes shouting abuse from cars.
Khan failed to pay the fine, and this led to him being prosecuted for failing to comply with a public space protection order.
He appeared at Bradford Magistrates Court on Friday, where he pleaded guilty to the offence.
It is believed to be the first time someone has appeared in court for breaching the PSPO by shouting abuse from a car.
Enis Rise, prosecuting on behalf of Bradford Council, told the court the warden had been taking pictures of Khan’s Volkswagen as part of issuing a ticket. He said: “When she was doing this, she noticed Khan come out of a takeaway carrying food and drink. He became abusive towards her. He was aggressive. She was shocked by some of the language he used.
“Her camera was switched on. It records him calling her a c*** and saying ‘I’m going to stab you in the throat.’”
He told magistrates that if Khan had paid his £100 fine, the case would have gone no further.
Because he didn’t, the Council decided to take Khan to court, and this legal process cost the authority £1,000.
Representing himself, Khan told the court that he had suffered from mental health problems for a decade.
He said he had been in the police 10 years ago, but left because of a “bullying and narcissistic” superior.
He said: “Since then I have not had an ordinary life. I haven’t worked because of my mental health.
“I don’t deal with things like fines.”
Khan told magistrates that he had been investigated by HMRC several years ago. He added: “I’m followed by police, followed by Mi5. It sounds crazy in a court room.
“With this parking woman, it was me losing my temper. It’s something I’m trying to deal with. I lost my rag.
“I’ve had a terrible 10 years. I don’t know how you expect me to care about something like this.”
He claimed that when he was interviewed by HMRC, he told them he “knew very interesting things.” Khan added: “Because of that they have been trying to ruin my life. They have sent people to hound me non-stop.”
He suggested Friday’s prosecution was linked to this hounding.
Khan told the court he was currently on benefits, and had not worked for years.
Magistrates gave him a £40 fine and ordered him to pay just £300 of the £1,000 costs Bradford Council had requested.
He will also have to pay a £16 surcharge.