Sutton Council's crackdown on Blue Badge fraudsters continues with two more drivers convicted under Section 1 of the Fraud Act.
Trevor Allan, aged 42, and Craig Kennett, aged 31, were both summonsed to appear before Croydon Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 26 January for parking their vehicles in disabled bays in Lodge Place, Sutton, when the Blue Badge Holder was not present.
Allan, of Muschamp Road, Carshalton, told the court he was running late when he parked his Vauxhall to pick up the Badge Holder - his son - from the shops on Thursday, 10 December 2015. But when he spoke to his son on the telephone, his son was already making his way home by bus. "I'm really sorry," he told the court.
Allan, pleaded guilty to misusing the Blue Badge and was fined £115 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £250 making a total of £385.
Kennett, aged 31, of Abbotsbury Road, Morden, had parked his Range Rover in a marked disabled bay on Thursday, 17 December 2015, whilst the Blue Badge Holder - his grandfather - was at home.
Kennett, pleaded guilty and was fined £150 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £250 making a total of £420. "I'm sincerely sorry for the misuse of the Blue Badge and it was stupid of me to do it," he said.
Blue Badges are issued for the sole use of a named individual and are only valid when it is being used by, or for, the disabled person when that person is present. It is stated clearly on the Badge that misuse may constitute a criminal offence.
Police and Sutton Council Parking Services' officers carry out regular joint patrols to stop misuse of the borough's 500 disabled parking bays which are for residents who have permanent or severe mobility difficulties and want to park conveniently for the shops.
Cllr Jill Whitehead, Chair of the Environment and Neighbourhoods Committee at Sutton Council, said:
"Blue Badges are issued to help disabled people have convenient access to busy town centres. We have only a limited number of disabled parking bays in Sutton and it is important that they are reserved for people who are genuinely disabled.
"Blue Badges are not to be used by people other than those named on them."
The vast majority of Sutton's 7,144 Blue Badge Holders use the Badges as they are intended. However, a small minority of drivers deliberately misuse the Blue Badge privilege and this has led to around 50 successful prosecutions since 2013 - 26 of them since the beginning of January 2015 - making Sutton one the London's most proactive boroughs in seeking to protect disabled bays for Blue Badge Holders.
Allan, of Muschamp Road, Carshalton, told the court he was running late when he parked his Vauxhall to pick up the Badge Holder - his son - from the shops on Thursday, 10 December 2015. But when he spoke to his son on the telephone, his son was already making his way home by bus. "I'm really sorry," he told the court.
Allan, pleaded guilty to misusing the Blue Badge and was fined £115 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £250 making a total of £385.
Kennett, aged 31, of Abbotsbury Road, Morden, had parked his Range Rover in a marked disabled bay on Thursday, 17 December 2015, whilst the Blue Badge Holder - his grandfather - was at home.
Kennett, pleaded guilty and was fined £150 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £250 making a total of £420. "I'm sincerely sorry for the misuse of the Blue Badge and it was stupid of me to do it," he said.
Blue Badges are issued for the sole use of a named individual and are only valid when it is being used by, or for, the disabled person when that person is present. It is stated clearly on the Badge that misuse may constitute a criminal offence.
Police and Sutton Council Parking Services' officers carry out regular joint patrols to stop misuse of the borough's 500 disabled parking bays which are for residents who have permanent or severe mobility difficulties and want to park conveniently for the shops.
Cllr Jill Whitehead, Chair of the Environment and Neighbourhoods Committee at Sutton Council, said:
"Blue Badges are issued to help disabled people have convenient access to busy town centres. We have only a limited number of disabled parking bays in Sutton and it is important that they are reserved for people who are genuinely disabled.
"Blue Badges are not to be used by people other than those named on them."
The vast majority of Sutton's 7,144 Blue Badge Holders use the Badges as they are intended. However, a small minority of drivers deliberately misuse the Blue Badge privilege and this has led to around 50 successful prosecutions since 2013 - 26 of them since the beginning of January 2015 - making Sutton one the London's most proactive boroughs in seeking to protect disabled bays for Blue Badge Holders.