Council continue clamp-down on disabled parking badge misuse

The most recent trio of Rotherham Borough Council prosecutions at the town’s magistrates court saw over £1,300 handed to unscrupulous, able-bodied defendants who mis-used blue badges to park in disabled spaces.

Dawn Gunthorpe (50) of Reynolds Close, Flanderwell, Rotherham, was convicted of using her mother's blue badge to park her car in Wellgate multi-storey car park in April, whilst her mother was not present.

Gunthorpe pleaded guilty and magistrates ordered her to pay a total of £590, comprising of a £120 fine, costs of £450 and a £20 victim surcharge. 

Claire Cadman (35) of Carver Close, Harthill, was convicted of using her son's blue badge to park her car in Douglas Street car park in March, while her son was in school. 

Cadman pleaded guilty by post and magistrates fined her a total of £475, comprising of a £155 fine, £300 costs and a £20 victim surcharge. 

Steven George Leach (52) of Pembroke Street, Rotherham, was convicted of using his brother's blue badge to park his car on College Street car park in April. 

The badge holder was not present when the badge was used.

Leach pleaded guilty in court and magistrates ordered him to pay a total of £270, comprising of a £35 fine, £215 costs and a £20 victim surcharge. 

Following the hearings on August 27, the borough council's advisory cabinet member for waste, roads and enforcement, Cllr Kath Sims, said: "The Council takes a very serious view of misuse of blue badges and we will prosecute when it's in the public interest to do so.

"All of these cases involved not only the fraudulent use of the badge but the vehicles were all parked in designated disabled bays which prevented genuine badge holders from using them.

"Despite the wide publication of the convictions and fines for the fraudulent use of blue badges in Rotherham some drivers still think it is acceptable for them to block genuine blue badge holders from using the designated parking places reserved for their use."