Parking Rage Pensioner Punches Ambassador's Chauffeur

A 'parking rage' pensioner attacked the Indonesian ambassador's chauffeur - punching him three times in the face and kicking him between the legs - when he refused to leave a suspended bay.

Malcolm Hammond, 65, shouted: "You are not allowed to park there," at driver Henky Sofjan, who had just driven ambassador Yuri Octavian Thamrin to the nearby London Central Mosque in St. John's Wood - opposite his home.

Hammond, of Park Road pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates' Court to assaulting Mr. Sofjan on December 28, last year.

Today he was placed on a three-month supervision order, which includes an electronically-tagged night time curfew between 6pm and 6am, ordered to pay the victim £200 compensation, £85 costs and a £65 victim surcharge.

A Freedom of Information request earlier this year revealed foreign embassies owe City of Westminster council £1.4m in unpaid parking fines.

Prosecutor Miss Louise Thomas told the court: "The victim parked his Mercedes in Grove Gardens in a suspended parking bay, but felt he was allowed to park there because he says the sign was covered up.

"Mr. Hammond banged on the window of the vehicle with his keys, while telling Mr. Sofjan he was not allowed to park there and the driver got out of the vehicle.

"Mr. Hammond then lunged forward and punched Mr. Sofjan three times to the left side of his face while shouting: 'He's trying to kill me.'

"A woman who witnessed the incident shouted: 'Stop it,' and Mr. Hammond then kicked Mr. Sofjan in the groin with his foot, making contact, but causing no injury.

"The victim was left with reddening and swelling to his left cheek."

The police were called and Hammond was arrested and questioned.  

"There was reddening to his hands, which he disputed," added Miss Thomas.

Hammond's lawyer Mr. James Martin said: "He was upset that this gentleman, who was chauffeuring an ambassador in a diplomatic car, was parked across his access."