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

Alan James Sweeney, 64, of Shaftesbury, pleaded guilty at Weymouth Magistrates Court yesterday to a charge of common assault on stall owner Glyn Chadderton.

He also admitted causing criminal damage to the value of £300.

Sweeney had previously pleaded not guilty when he appeared before the court in May.

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 with his partner at around 7.20am 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 Mr Chadderton was left with a bruised hip and a sore knee.

A statement from Mr Chadderton, read out in court, said that the incident has "really shaken [him] up".

He added: "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.

"What he did was just not normal and that frightens me more than anything."

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.

"It may well be that he rolled on and off the bonnet in a very quick movement.

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 as you have heard is out of character for him.

"He apologises to all concerned and accepts that, with a bit of goodwill, this is an incident that should not have happened."

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, as well as £570 in costs.