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Blue badge abuse prosecution

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Latest news in Yorkshire: August 31, 2018 01:41:18 PM

A man who used his mother’s disabled parking badge to park in Rotherham Town
Centre has been prosecuted by Rotherham Council.

John Swales, of Heatons Bank, Rawmarsh, Rotherham, failed to appear in court
when charged with using his mother’s blue badge to park his vehicle in a
designated disabled bay on Wellgate in August 2017.

He parked the car alone, went into a nearby bank, and then returned to the
car alone. This was all observed by a Senior Civil Enforcement Officer.
Swales stated that the badge holder was in town but she had already been
contacted at home during the time the vehicle had been parked.
Swales refused to attend an interview under caution regarding the matter so
the Council proceeded to court based upon the information that it held.
He was found guilty in his absence and fined £440 with £300 costs and £44
victim surcharge.
Councillor Denise Lelliott, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and the
Local Economy said: “This is yet another example of this extremely
anti-social crime. Using a blue badge fraudulently whilst the badge holder
is not present is denying blue badge holders with genuine needs the
opportunity to use a designated parking bay.

“Our officers are very alert to fraudulent use of blue badges and anyone
using a blue badge in such a manner runs a high risk of being caught and
prosecuted.
“The Council will not tolerate such activities and will take legal action
whenever it is in the public interest to do so.”

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