A raging thug kicked, punched and grabbed a traffic warden after getting a parking ticket.

Lee Smith launched a tirade of abuse towards the enforcement officer in Canterbury and assaulted him.

A court heard how the foul-mouthed 32-year-old tried to grab the terrified warden’s body-worn camera as he desperately tried to call colleagues on his radio for assistance.

Prosecutor Julie Farbrace told magistrates: “It was 8.50am and the traffic enforcement officer was in York Road, Canterbury.

“He was giving a ticket to the vehicle and Smith came out and kicked him to the leg.

“As he put on his bodyworn camera, he kicked him again and then got up close to him and grabbed the camera.

“He started following him and shouting, saying he was going to punch him and then approached him again and gave further abuse.

“He then told him he would put him on his f****** a*** and punched him in the chest where the camera was.”

The police were called and Smith, from Wincheap, Canterbury, was picked up and later charged with assault over the incident on March 29.

He initially pleaded not guilty to the charge, but when he appeared at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on October 19 he changed his plea to guilty.

Ms Farbrace told the court Smith had been arrested after a warrant was issued in another case he had failed to attend in Wales.

She said: “A warrant was issued on a north Wales case, which was making off without payment on August 25 at Harvey’s restaurant in Llandudno which was caught on CCTV.”

The prosecutor said staff at the bar and grill had called the police after Smith and a friend had eaten a meal and had enjoyed drinks - which had cost £97.75 - but had failed to pay. Smith had told staff he had left his bank card in his van.

She added: “They were argumentative with staff and shouted at them. Officers offered to give them a lift back to the van, but they were obstructive and then said the vehicle was parked 16 miles away.

“Officers exhausted all options and they were arrested.”

Smith and his accomplice were later charged with making off without payment. But Smith had failed to attend a hearing in Wales on October 11 and had been arrested on the warrant and brought before magistrates in Folkestone.

When Smith was arrested over the assault on the warden, he had made no comment during interview.

Magistrates were told the enforcement officer had been left shaken by the incident and that Smith had been aggressive.

The warden had to take the afternoon off work and was no longer covering that area of Canterbury as a result of the attack.

The court also heard Smith said there was a mix-up with his friend about who was going to pay for the meal in Wales. Smith said he should have paid the bill but had the wrong card with him that day and that the situation had just got out of hand.

The bench was also told on the day he attacked the traffic enforcement officer he’d had some bad news. He now accepted he had punched the man.

The court also heard he has a new girlfriend and is trying to sort his life out.

Magistrates placed Smith on a 12-month community order which will see him complete 250 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay the traffic warden £100 compensation as well as £97.75 compensation to Harvey’s restaurant.

Smith must also pay £120 court costs and a victim surcharge of £114.