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| Barnet Councillor Brian Coleman admits parking row attack | Barnet Councillor Brian Coleman admits parking row attack |
| (6 days later) | |
| An ex-Conservative mayor has admitted attacking a woman as she filmed him parking illegally on a street where he had helped introduce unpopular charges. | An ex-Conservative mayor has admitted attacking a woman as she filmed him parking illegally on a street where he had helped introduce unpopular charges. |
| Brian Coleman, a Barnet councillor, admitted a charge of common assault by beating at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court. | Brian Coleman, a Barnet councillor, admitted a charge of common assault by beating at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court. |
| The 51-year-old was arrested in September after assaulting cafe owner Helen Michael in Finchley High Road. | The 51-year-old was arrested in September after assaulting cafe owner Helen Michael in Finchley High Road. |
| His lawyer said he had been trying to stop her filming him on a mobile phone as he parked in a loading bay. | His lawyer said he had been trying to stop her filming him on a mobile phone as he parked in a loading bay. |
| Coleman, of Essex Park in Finchley, was ordered to pay £1,385, including a £270 fine, prosecution costs of £850 and £250 to the victim as compensation. | |
| Ms Michael, 50, a mother-of-two, who suffered injuries including scratches to her wrist and soreness to her shoulder and chest, called on Coleman to resign. | Ms Michael, 50, a mother-of-two, who suffered injuries including scratches to her wrist and soreness to her shoulder and chest, called on Coleman to resign. |
| She said: "[I was] looking at my phone and all of a sudden he's upon me, it was pure shock. | She said: "[I was] looking at my phone and all of a sudden he's upon me, it was pure shock. |
| "I think he's bullied and intimidated people for a long long time and I think he has now got what has been long overdue." | "I think he's bullied and intimidated people for a long long time and I think he has now got what has been long overdue." |
| 'Unpopular' parking charges | 'Unpopular' parking charges |
| A charge of driving without reasonable consideration was dropped after the prosecution offered no evidence for it. | A charge of driving without reasonable consideration was dropped after the prosecution offered no evidence for it. |
| The court heard Coleman had helped bring in parking charges in the area which were "extremely unpopular" with local residents and businesses. | The court heard Coleman had helped bring in parking charges in the area which were "extremely unpopular" with local residents and businesses. |
| Ms Michael, a parking campaigner, filmed him after she was informed he had parked in a loading bay and was withdrawing money from a cash machine, the court heard. | Ms Michael, a parking campaigner, filmed him after she was informed he had parked in a loading bay and was withdrawing money from a cash machine, the court heard. |
| The incident was caught on CCTV and the footage shown in the court. | The incident was caught on CCTV and the footage shown in the court. |
| Sentencing Coleman, District Judge Deborah Wright said the "well-known politician" was a man of "previous good character" who had made significant contributions to society. | Sentencing Coleman, District Judge Deborah Wright said the "well-known politician" was a man of "previous good character" who had made significant contributions to society. |
| "I have no doubt that his motives were to avoid the embarrassment of the publicity," she said. | "I have no doubt that his motives were to avoid the embarrassment of the publicity," she said. |
| A struggle ensued and there can be "no doubt that struggle was instigated by Mr Coleman", the judge added. | A struggle ensued and there can be "no doubt that struggle was instigated by Mr Coleman", the judge added. |
| Prosecution lawyer Manjit Mahal said: "He was applying one rule for himself and another for the traders." | Prosecution lawyer Manjit Mahal said: "He was applying one rule for himself and another for the traders." |
| But Neville Rudston, defending, said the incident had to be viewed in the context of a campaign "with uncomfortable and personal elements" which the councillor had faced. | But Neville Rudston, defending, said the incident had to be viewed in the context of a campaign "with uncomfortable and personal elements" which the councillor had faced. |
| Coleman decided to change his plea to guilty after he found it "difficult" to look at footage of the assault, the lawyer added. | Coleman decided to change his plea to guilty after he found it "difficult" to look at footage of the assault, the lawyer added. |
| After he was charged in October, Coleman was suspended by his party and stripped of his council committee duties. | After he was charged in October, Coleman was suspended by his party and stripped of his council committee duties. |
| He was mayor of Barnet between 2009-10 and chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. | He was mayor of Barnet between 2009-10 and chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. |