THE courts have banned a man from entering Moors Valley Country Park after he assaulted a member of staff.

Jonathan Edwin Michael Griffiths appeared before a district judge in Poole on January 13 in relation to the incident at the site in Ashley Heath on April 22 last year during the first national coronavirus lockdown.

It was reported by Dorset Police that a man had been challenged by a staff member after he was seen riding a motorcycle through the picnic area on the bike shortly after 11am.

A force spokesman said: “The man reportedly got off his bike and hit the member of staff across the face.

“He allegedly hit them a further two times before riding off. The victim did not sustain any serious injuries.”

Griffiths, aged 26 and of Bingham Road, Verwood, appeared at Poole Magistrates’ Court on January 13 for sentencing after he admitted a single charge of assaulting a man by beating him at a hearing last month.

District judge Stephen Nicholls committed the defendant to prison for 16 weeks, suspended for 24 months, noting the seriousness of the offence and Griffiths’s criminal record.

He issued an exclusion requirement which specified Griffiths must not enter Moors Valley Country Park for two years.

There was also a requirement to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and 29 days of rehabilitation activity requirement.

The defendant was also ordered to pay £250 compensation to the victim and £85 court costs.

Moors Valley Country Park is a joint venture by Dorset Council and Forestry England.

A spokesperson for Dorset Council said: “Any verbal, mental or physical assault against a member of staff is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

“Our teams do not deserve to be mistreated in any way for simply doing their job.

“We continue to work hard to maintain the park and forest for local communities to enjoy.

“Please respect us as we carry out our essential work.”