Pensioner convicted of assault at recycling centre

Cromer Magistrates' Court heard how James Browne, of Trimingham near Norwich, had visited a north Norfolk recycling centre on August 14 2008 to dispose of two doors but had been told that, due to council regulations, he could only recycle one door per week.

Fergus Harald, prosecuting, said that Mr Browne ignored the advice and discarded the doors anyway. After being approached by a member of staff at the Worstead centre, the prosecution said that the defendant became abusive and drove his car into two staff members.

Mr Browne denied both charges of assault and another of driving without due care and attention.

Court

Speaking in court on Monday (November 24), David Meacher, the staff member who approached Mr Browne, said that he told the defendant he would take down his registration number and report him. He claimed that, as he stood at the rear of the van, Mr Browne reversed into him, forcing him backwards.

Mr Meacher told the court how he walked to the side of Mr Browne's silver Vauxhall van and told the defendant: “You've just hit me.” The prosecution claimed that Mr Browne then punched and kicked Mr Meacher before driving his car forward into another recycling centre worker, Sean Nunn.

Alan Whiteman, defending, told the court that his client was the real victim, and Mr Browne said that he did not realise that anyone had been standing behind his vehicle when he reversed and he did not believe that he had hit anyone.

Mr Browne claimed that Mr Meacher opened the door to his van and grabbed his arm, pulling it off the steering wheel as he tried to drive away. Mr Browne said: “I was extremely worried, extremely frightened. Twenty years ago they wouldn't have put the wind up me quite so much.”

The defendant's wife, Paula Browne, had been in the van at the time of the incident and told the court: “In 47 years of marriage, I have never known him to fight anyone. I wouldn't imagine he would do that sort of thing. He just drove off because we were frightened.”

Verdict

Magistrates were shown CCTV footage from the day in question, which captured parts of the incident. The court found the defendant guilty of one count of assault but acquitted him of the other charges.

Chairman of the bench, Chris Armstrong, said: “We believe Mr Meacher was struck by the reversing van. We do not find this to be a deliberate act, but it was reckless.”

The court ordered Mr Browne to pay a fine and costs totalling £215.