A fraudster - who used her mum's disabled badge to park near West London's Westfield shopping centre - has been found guilty today (9 August), fined and ordered to pay court costs.
Brent Council took Sandra Temple of Buchanan Gardens, Willesden, to court for fraudulently using her mother's disabled Blue Badge on three occasions while she visited her boyfriend or went shopping.
An eagle-eyed member of the public spotted the fraud and reported it to the local council.
Dave Verma, Brent Council's Audit Investigations Manager, said: "Westfield is a notorious place where people misuse badges so they can go shopping. Their selfish actions are depriving genuinely disabled people from using parking spaces."
Ms Temple fraudulently used the Blue Badge while her mother was either in hospital receiving care as an in patent or at home receiving care.
The area where she was parking in W12 was a restricted area where a visitor permit with a pay and display ticket or a local residents' permit are required.
Throughout the trial at Willesden Magistrates Court, Sandra Temple claimed she was not guilty despite strong evidence to the contrary. She now has a criminal record.
Mr Verma said: "Blue badges are issued to people in genuine need and it is unacceptable that some people in our society seek to misuse these badges and deprive those in genuine need.
"Anyone caught committing Blue Badge fraud should be warned - Brent Council will pursue a criminal conviction to protect spaces for those who genuinely need them."
If you suspect someone in Brent of committing Blue Badge fraud please call 0800 937 777.
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