Sheriff’s attacker must pay

DON’T touch the sheriff. This is the message of the deputy sheriff of Pretoria East, Steven Brits, who was beaten up by a Meyerspark man after he tried to attach a BMW driven by the man’s sister.

Brits was head-butted and kicked by an irate Raymond Pereira da Silva, who claimed he had acted in self-defence as Brits wanted to pepper-spray him.

Brits, who turns 72 in November, claimed R510 000 in damages in the Pretoria High Court from Da Silva.

The court ordered that Da Silva pay him a total of R77 000 – R47 000 for the injuries he had suffered as a result of the assault and R30 000 for his injured feelings.

Brits told the Pretoria News yesterday that he was happy with the outcome of the proceedings.

“I don’t care so much about the money, but people should know to respect a sheriff. Don’t touch the sheriff. He is only doing his job.”

Brits had served an attachment order on Leandri da Silva, who arrived at her home in a charcoal BMW. He said she told him her brother was on his way.

Raymond asked Brits who was going to pay if her BMW got damaged and he said he had explained that he was insured, but Raymond told him he was arrogant.

According to him the man pushed him around. “I warned him I would use my pepper spray. He head-butted me and when I fell, he kicked me. He then drove away.”

Brits was taken to a nearby hospital. – Mercury Correspondent