Blue badge fraudsters fined

Rotherham Council prosecuted three women and a man for using the disabled parking badge's of their relatives without  them being in the car.

One man was also fined for using the badge of his dead brother-in law during proseuctions held at Rotherham Magistrates' Court last month.

Mazafer Hussain (41), of Eslaforde Terrace, Rotherham, admitted using his dead brother-in-law’s blue badge when parked in a  designated disabled bay in College Street, Rotherham, in August.

He was fined £140 with £300 costs, £150 court charge and a £20 victim surcharge.

Theresa Ripley (37), of Oakwood Road East, Rotherham, admitted using her dad’s blue badge to park her car in a designated disabled bay in College Street, Rotherham, in August 2015 when her father was not present.

She was fined £220 with £300 costs, £150 court charge and a £22 victim surcharge.

Lisa Truelove (44), of Wensleydale Road, Rotherham,pleaded guilty to using her mother’s blue badge to park her car in Doncaster Gate in June when her mother was not present.

She was fined £50 with £100 costs, £150 court charge and a £20 victim surcharge.

Melanie Kennedy (52), of Alfred Road, Askern, Doncaster, pleaded guilty to using her mother’s blue badge to park her car in Masbrough Street, Rotherham, in June when her mother was not present.

Kennedy was fined £50 with £150 costs, £150 court charge and a £20 victim surcharge.

Zaheer Hussain Khan (38), of Doncaster Road, Rotherham, admitted using his daughter’s blue badge to park his car in a designated disabled bay in College Street, Rotherham, in April 2015 when his daughter was in school.

He was fined £50 with £150 costs, £150 court charge and £20 victim surcharge.

Cllr Kath Sims, Rotherham Council’s advisory cabinet member for waste, roads and enforcement, said: "These are further examples of blue badges being used for the convenience of people who are not entitled to use them.

“Some cases involved not only the fraudulent use of the badge but vehicles being parked in designated disabled bays which prevented genuine badge holders from using them. Other cases involved badges being used to in order avoid parking charges.

“Drivers need to consider the problems this kind of parking can cause for people with genuine needs or whether it is worth risking a criminal record to avoid putting £1 in a ‘pay and display’ machine. If we catch drivers using blue badges without the named holder present, we will prosecute where it is in the public interest to do so."