Lollipop man, 87, assaulted over 'unwanted attention' to teen's girlfriend, court hears

An 18-year-old assaulted an 87-year-old traffic warden after he subjected the young man's girlfriend to "persistent unwanted attention", a Perth court has heard.

Jatin Pudaruth was set to be sentenced after previously pleading guilty to assaulting a public officer and stealing in relation to the incident outside Rossmoyne Primary School on the morning of May 19.

The court heard on that day, Pudaruth got out a car and called out the traffic warden's name, before pushing him in the back.

The 87-year-old fell to the ground and hit his head, resulting in extensive bruising and a fractured clavicle.

Pudaruth then took the traffic warden's hat and whistle before driving away.

Later that day, the 18-year-old handed himself in to police.

But his sentencing in court today was delayed after new claims came to light that the elderly warden had been persistently giving "unwanted" attention to the teenager's girlfriend.

'I can't kiss you then'

The police prosecutor said the explanation Pudaruth provided at the time was that the traffic warden had been "saying weird things" to his girlfriend.

Defence lawyer Mark Andrews put forth more details saying the context of the situation was "very important".

Mr Andrews said Pudaruth's girlfriend — who would walk her younger sister to her primary school — had been subject to "persistent unwanted attention" from the traffic warden for many months.

The court heard this included unwanted gifts, including a crocheted flower and a $100 fuel voucher.

In one instance he gave her a blanket, which he then put inside her car after following her there, despite her saying she did not want it.

Mr Andrews said it also included text messages asking where she was when she did not accompany her sister, one of which was "to the effect of 'I can't kiss you then'."

The court heard Pudaruth suggested to his girlfriend she report the incident but she didn't want to, and instead stopped accompanying her sister to school.

One week prior to the incident, Mr Andrews said the 18-year-old approached the traffic warden to tell him his behaviour was making his girlfriend uncomfortable.

The court heard the warden told Puduruth, who was born in Mauritius, to "go back where you came from".

The warden then quizzed Pudaruth's girlfriend's 10-year-old sister about why she was not coming with her to school.

Sentencing delayed

On the day of the incident, Mr Andrews said Pudaruth was "annoyed and frustrated" with the situation, and made a "stupid and immature" decision.

He said the behaviour of the traffic warden toward Pudaruth's girlfriend was now the subject of a formal complaint from the girl's father.

The police prosecutor said they were unaware of the complaint.

Magistrate Anthony Sullivan adjourned the case to allow the alleged complaint to be canvassed, saying it would "go to the heart of why the offender is in court".

"Even if there was this untoward attention, the offender is not entitled to take matters into his own hands," he said.

"Really it is a matter of whether or not the prosecution intends to challenge whether or not this is the basis the offender engaged in the action that he did."

He is due to face court again on the August 12.

Traffic wardens form a unit of WA Police, which has been contacted for comment.