A parish councillor racially abused a parking warden during a dispute over a parking ticket, a Court heard.

Ilyas Khan, 39, of Megna Way, Bradford, who was elected to Trident Community Council last year, went on trial at Bradford Magistrates’ Court yesterday accused of racially aggravated assault, common assault and using threatening behaviour.

Magistrates were told that Khan became angry with one of Bradford Council’s civil enforcement officers during an incident in Clipstone Street, West Bowling, on February 23 this year.

Parking officer David Bernard, a supervisor, was issuing a £70 fixed penalty notice to Khan’s 54-plate silver Toyota, parked on double yellow lines.

He believed it was parked illegally as a blue disabled badge for Khan’s mother was not displayed correctly, said Clare Benson, for the Council.

Khan appeared out of the Woodroyd Medical Centre and began swearing at the enforcement officer, who was of African-Caribbean descent, she said.

Giving evidence, Mr Bernard told the court Khan had disputed the ticket and argued the badge was in order.

He was aggressive despite an explanation of why he had been issued with the fine, the court heard.

“I was just doing my job and was calm, polite and professional,” Mr Bernard said.

“He was in my face, so I took a step back. Then he pushed me so I stumbled.

“He was in my personal space and was becoming threatening.”

Khan’s wife arrived out of the medical centre, where she runs a café, and attempted to diffuse the situation.

It was as the pair left in the vehicle that he is alleged to have shouted the racist abuse at Mr Bernard.

Javid Arshad, for Khan, told the court the defendant had himself been racially and verbally abused by the three parking officers.

He also suggested that the fixed penalty notice was not legally issued because it had not been placed on the vehicle.

Khan, who denies the charges, said in evidence: “He said he was giving me a ticket because the disabled badge wasn’t displayed correctly, so I asked him how – as you could clearly see the serial number, expiry date and clock.

“I didn’t swear and was reluctant to show him the badge when he asked initially, but I went to get it and held it up. I didn’t push it in his face.

“Then when I threw it back into the car, he said it isn’t displayed correctly now.”

Khan said the enforcement officers were sniggering and acting like school children and that Mr Bernard was aggressive, saying he would fight him if he was not in his uniform.

The trial is set to continue on August 26.