Councillor fined over assault on 'parking row' woman

Barnet councillor Brian Colenman has been fined after admitting he assaulted a woman over a parking row

Former London fire authority chairman Brian Coleman has been fined after admitting he did assault a woman in north London as she filmed him parking illegally.

The 51-year-old admitted a charge of common assault by beating at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court.

Barnet councillor Coleman was arrested in September after assaulting Helen Michael in Finchley High Road.

Today he was fined £1,385 which included £250 compensation to be paid to the victim.

The court heard Coleman had assisted in bringing in parking charges on the road which were unpopular with local businesses.

Helen Michael, a local business owner, started filming him after learning he was illegally parked as he went to withdraw cash, the court heard.

Coleman's lawyer told the court he had been attempting to stop the woman from filming.

CCTV captured the incident and footage was played to the court.

A charge of careless driving against the former chairman was dropped.