A ROOFER has been ordered to complete unpaid work after threatening a traffic warden in Newport.

Benjamin Stuart Turner, 33, of Park Road, Ryde, entered a guilty plea to one charge of using threatening words or behaviour with the intent to cause fear at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court today (Friday).

The court heard Turner had been working at an address in Newport and was parking in a loading bay when he spotted a traffic warden near his vehicle.

Turner asked if it was okay to park there and the warden said it was fine as long as he was loading.

The warden then observed the vehicle for 20 minutes, saw no loading, and issued a fine of £35 which was paid.

Prosecuting, Reginald Withey, alleged the defendant then confronted the warden.

"Turner pushed his chest into him and called him a 'f*****g weasel'," said Mr Withey.

"My client felt threatened and was shaking inside. Turner said: 'I can see the fear in your eyes, when I see you on your own down an alley where there are no cameras I swear on my children's lives you're done.'"

For Turner, Keith Verrinder said: "If he saw the traffic warden again he would apologise for making him feel that way."

Before sentencing, magistrate Mark Couch said: "No-one enjoys getting a parking ticket, but it's how you deal with it. In your case, you dealt with it totally wrong."

Turner was sentenced to a 12 month community order and told to complete 40 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation days with the Probation Service.

He must pay an £85 surcharge and £85 in costs.