A DRIVER falsely claimed a traffic warden had racially abused and attacked him in order to avoid a parking ticket, a court was told today.

Ben Hlal had parked on double yellow lines outside a supermarket in Fareham, when he was approached by Andrew Lynch, a parking enforcement officer from the Borough Council.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard that Mr Lynch had told the 45 year old that he was parked illegally and would issue him with a parking ticket if he did not move.

By the time he returned to the vehicle Hlal, originally from Tunisia but now living in Fareham, had told another traffic warden that Mr Lynch had racially abused and assaulted him.

Mr Lynch was later arrested and interrogated by police for three hours, and was suspended from his job at Fareham Borough Council while the case was investigated.

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He was only allowed back to work five weeks later when police decided there was no case to answer.

Louisa Bagley, prosecuting, said: ''He (Mr Lynch) was an innocent man, albeit a traffic warden and you may have your own views about those who issue parking tickets.

''Mr Hlal wanted to get around having to pay for that penalty ticket and hence made this allegation in order to avoiding paying for that ticket.''

Mr Lynch told the court: ''I went up to the vehicle and said to the driver that he needed to move. At this point he said to me that he was on the phone to the police and that I had assaulted him.

''He said that I had grabbed him around the face and had hit him against his headrest. I said: No I haven't.

''I stepped back and went to issue a penalty charge notice.''

Mr Lynch added: ''I was suspended from patrolling, from doing my job. I thought I was going to lose my job.''

The police investigation found that Hlal had made another allegedly false allegation that a consultant doctor racially abused him outside a hospital.

The court was told that Dr Neil Buchanan had approached Hlal when he had apparently parked in a disabled bay without a blue badge outside Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester. When Hlal allegedly refused to move, Dr Buchanan went to tell a security guard.

Hlal accused Dr Buchanan of racially assaulting him, leading to him being arrested and questioned by police.

Hlal denies two charges of perverting the course of public justice.

Diane Bateman, 52, originally from West Bromwich but who lives in Gosport, also denies a charge of perverting the course of justice. She is alleged to have given a statement to police supporting Hlal's accusation against Mr Lynch.

Proceeding.