A MAN who headbutted a shopper at a Chard supermarket in a row over a child and parent parking space left the victim with two broken front teeth.

Douglas Nicholls, 63, of Turnpike Caravan Park, Chard, admitted assaulting Danny Hyams by beating him during the incident in the Tesco car park in Chard on February 27.

The court heard Nicholls beat the other man into a parking space reserved for parents with children, and when he got out to confront him he called him a “stupid boy”.

Nicholls then followed the victim, tapped him on the shoulder and headbutted him in the face causing him to fall.

As a result of the assault the man suffered two fractured front teeth, cuts to his lips and bruised gums, Somerset Magistrates were told.

Yeovil magistrates were told the complainant was waiting for a parent and child parking space and had to wait for another vehicle to finish moving before he could move.

“Before he could get into the space Nicholls drove in before him even though he did not have any children,” said prosecutor Christine Hart.

“The complainant approached Nicholls and words were exchanged and the defendant said he had a bad leg and called him a stupid boy.

“The defendant walked after Mr Hyams, tapped him on the shoulder, and when he turned round he headbutted him and walked away before driving off.”

As a result of the incident the victim had permanent damage to his two front teeth and cuts to his lips and had dental treatment costing £285.

During interview with the police Nicholls said he parked in the space because he suffered from type 2 diabetes and couldn’t walk very far.

He said the complainant came over and was confrontational and then walked off shouting and swearing.

He followed him to say he would move his car but he put his hands up, and fearing he would be headbutted Nicholls then carried out the assault.

In a victim impact statement read to the court Mr Hyams said the incident had left him feeling shocked and angry and the injury took some time to put right.

He wrote: “I work in sales and the visual injury was difficult to cover up and it also affected my speech.

“This incident was in broad daylight when the shop was busy and it would have affected others who were there and my wife was also distressed when I told her.”

Defending solicitor Neil Priest said Nicholls had never been in trouble before and accepted his reaction was inappropriate.

“He admits using unreasonable force in a situation where he felt he had been provoked because he had parked in a parent and child parking space because he was unable to walk very far,” he said.

“He did not see that the victim had any justifiable reason to prevent him from parking there and Mr Hyams was very vocal and abusive.

“My client decided that he would move his car and approached the victim, not to assault him, but to say that if it meant that much to him then he would move his car.

“However the complainant turned round and was looking aggressive and my client unfortunately overreacted and headbutted him.”

He said Nicholls was not proud of his actions but at the time had felt provoked and wound up and the offence was completely out of character for him.

Probation officer Mo Lawton said that the defendant said he rarely lost his temper and never wanted to be in court again.

The magistrates fined him £320 and ordered him to pay £370 compensation, £85 costs and a £32 victim surcharge.