A MAN has been convicted of a public order offence for abusing a Brighton & Hove City Council parking enforcement officer.

Daniel Hull Cotton, 26, of Pullman Hall, New England Street, Brighton, shouted abuse at the officer as she was investigating a separate blue badge misuse offence in Victoria Road in September last year.

The court accepted evidence that Mr Cotton was swearing and abusive and caused the officer alarm and distress.

On 25 February, Mr Cotton was convicted in his absence at Brighton Magistrates’ Court under section 5 of the Public Order Act.

He was ordered to pay a total of £1,134 in fines, costs and a victim surcharge.

Chair of the council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee Anne Pissaridou said: “I am very pleased we have seen a conviction in this case.

“The council will not tolerate people abusing its hard-working staff and we will seek the prosecution of anyone who thinks otherwise.

“Parking enforcement officers do an excellent job in our city and to be subjected to any form of abuse is completely unacceptable.”