A Burnage BMW driver, who was caught using his dead father’s disabled badge to get free parking, has been prosecuted and fined more than £500 including legal costs.
Michael Anthony Stephens, 46, of Moorton Avenue, pleaded guilty to Blue Badge Abuse and was fined £260 with £244 costs and a £26 victim of crime surcharge at Manchester Magistrates’ court on Wednesday July 22.
When Stephens was spotted parking his vehicle on Old Oak Road, Didsbury, on January 6 he initially claimed his deceased father was at home and he was out doing some banking for him.
He later admitted that his father had passed away and accepted he was guilty of the offence.
The court heard a further three people plead guilty to Blue Badge Misuse offences on the same day last week.
Councillor Kate Chappell, Manchester City Council’s executive member for environment, said: “These individuals were caught using Blue Badges for their own benefit – showing no regard to the needs of other badge holders.
“The blue badge holder must be in the vehicle or being picked up when the badge is being used. Our officers on patrol will have no hesitation in prosecuting anyone found to be breaking the rules.”
Nalia Zaka, 55, of Saddlecote Close, was caught misusing her son’s badge to park for free and was fined £200 with £195 in costs and a £20 victim of crime surcharge.
Ruqia Shafiq, 40, of Wilbraham Road, must pay a fine of £250 with costs of £275 and a £25 victim of crime surcharge after she was caught misusing her mother-in-law’s disabled badge to go shopping in the city centre.
And William Broster, 59, of Sykes Meadow, Stockport, who misused his sister’s Blue Badge to park free of charge in the city centre, was fined £200 with £286 costs and a £20 victim of crime surcharge.
Image courtesy of Pink Sherbert Photography, with thanks.
