AN abusive and aggressive motorist has been punished after following a council worker before verbally assaulting and threatening them.

Colchester Council officials have reminded residents they take a zero tolerance approach to the mistreatment of their staff after a man admitted assault.

The defendant, who appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on June 14, “gesticulated angrily” at a neighbourhood officer on a housing estate.

He then proceeded to follow the authority worker’s vehicle back to its base in Shrub End before confronting and intimidating the employee in the car park.

Following a court hearing, the man has now been sentenced to 80 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay a £300 fine, £105 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

Martin Goss, Colchester councillor responsible for neighbourhood services and waste, has now issued a warning to anyone thinking of abusing the council’s workers.

He said: “We will not tolerate abuse or aggression towards any of our employees and will act where necessary to prosecute those who behave inappropriately.

“Our teams work hard to keep our communities safe and clean 365 days a year, in all weathers, and they should be able to carry out their work without fear of abuse.”