A DRIVER who carried a flower seller across the road on the bonnet of his van will pay compensation to his victim.

Alan Sweeney, 64, of Shaftesbury, pleaded guilty to a charge of common assault on stall owner Glyn Chadderton. He also admitted causing criminal damage to the value of £300.

The charges related to an incident on March 31 in High Street, Shaftesbury when Sweeney’s van was parked in the area where market stall owners set up each week.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Valera said that Mr Chadderton had been “working around” the van to set up his stall when Sweeney drove “backwards and forwards” into the stall before pulling away.

Ms Valera added that Mr Chadderton was “carried across the road” on the bonnet of the vehicle and left with a bruised hip and a sore knee.

A statement from Mr Chadderton said that the incident had really shaken him up.

“When it was happening, it was so surreal and I do not appreciate how close I came to being seriously injured and maybe even killed. I am finding it difficult to work out what he must have been thinking.

Keith O’Neill, mitigating, said: “He moved out slowly thinking Mr Chadderton would get out of the way, but he did not and there was a collision.

Mr O’Neill said that Sweeney had asked Mr Chadderton three times to move his plants so that he could pull the van out.

He added: “Mr Sweeney is now very regretful of the incident, which is out of character for him.”

Sweeney was ordered to pay £300 in compensation for the damage, as well as a further £100 to Mr Chadderton. He was fined £650 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £65, and £570 costs.