Slapped for van parking

Hanif Mohammed Khan approached Adam Karolia and his colleague outside his house in Woodsome Estate in Staincliffe on August 3 last year.

Khan, 41, asked Mr Karolia move his van, then became aggressive and abusive towards him.

Prosecuting at Batley and Dewsbury Magistrates’ Court on Monday, Alex Johnson said: “He took hold of Mr Karolia and was shouting at him in Urdu.

“He slapped Mr Karolia across the face, causing discomfort but no visible injuries.”

Mr Johnson said Khan then shouted racial abuse at Mr Karolia, saying he was behaving like a white man, and began shouting and swearing in the street.

Mr Karolia walked away, and Khan returned to his house.

He came back outside and made threats towards Mr Karolia, saying he would throw a cup of tea in his face.

He then left in a taxi and Mr Karolia called the police.

Khan, who already has a conviction for assault in 2009, was arrested, but denied the matter.

He was found guilty of racially aggravated common assault following a trial at the court on December 6.

Mitigating, Khaleeq Zaman said Khan had always denied the offence and still maintained he was not guilty.

Mr Zaman said: “The offence itself is a single blow; a slap to the face.

“It is not a sustained attack, it wasn’t pre-planned and there were no weapons.”

He said Khan was a man of minimal means, relying on benefits to look after his three young children, aged 12, nine and six, and his sick wife.

He was sentenced to a six month community order with supervision and ordered to pay £260 towards court costs.