Blue badge cheats fined

In what were the first prosecutions of their kind in Rotherham, two motorists pleaded guilty this week to using disabled parking permits when they were not entitled or eligible.

In separate cases, both Jemma Ingram and David Dobbs pleaded guilty by letter at Rotherham Magistrates' Court to fraudulently using blue badges to park in disabled spaces in Rotherham town centre.

The court heard that Jemma Ingram, of Brinsworth, used her late mother-in-law's blue badge to park on the Drummond Street car park in January this year. Her mother-in-law died in July, 2008.

In mitigation, the court heard through a letter that the part-time teacher said the icy conditions and lack of grit on the car park meant she was unable to get to a machine to obtain a parking ticket.

Ingram was fined, ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £255.

David Dobbs, of Herringthorpe Valley Road, also pleaded guilty by letter. He said he had parked in a disabled parking bay in the Bailey House car park and used his partner's disabled permit "out of habit" - even though his partner was not present.

Dobbs, who is retired, was fined, ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £240.

Coun. Richard Russell, Streetpride Cabinet Member for Rotherham Borough Council,  said: "I am delighted that these first two cases have resulted in successful prosecutions. I am hopeful that this will act as a deterrent should anyone consider fraudulent use of a blue badge.

"Blue Badges are issued for use by those people who are genuinely disabled and any abuse makes it more difficult for that group of motorists. To stop this abuse this authority is committed to pressing ahead with prosecutions where blue badge fraud is proved."