Box row with binmen lands father in court

A FATHER has been left with a criminal conviction after he chased binmen who refused to take a cardboard box, because he failed to follow council procedure.

Simon Jacobs confronted workers from recycling firm Veolia after they left behind a large cardboard box from a new television because it contained polystyrene.

The 54-year-old, of Dovercourt, Essex, pursued the workers who told him they could not take the box, then drove towards one of the men, forcing him to jump out of the way.

Jacobs was given a 12week suspended prison sentence at Colchester magistrates’ court after admitting common assault and using threatening behaviour. He claimed he had lost control when he spilled a flask of hot coffee and accidentally hit the accelerator.

Jacobs was ordered to pay £300 compensation to one refuse collector and £100 to the other.