Bristol man prosecuted for using deceased women’s Blue Badge in Kent

Bristol man prosecuted for using deceased women’s Blue Badge in Kent

A Bristol resident who used a deceased women’s blue badge on two occasions in Kent has been hit with a bill of £1333.11 after pleading guilty to Blue Badge Fraud.

The Blue Badge scheme is designed to help people with disabilities park closer to their destination.

Ashley Jones (30), of Passage Road, Bristol, who admitted to offences of misusing a blue badge by using a deceased women’s Disabled Person’s Parking Permit, as well as fraud by false representation when he appealed against the penalty charge notice stating the badge was valid and belonged to him, was ordered to pay a £26 victim surcharge and £1,307.11 In costs.

On Friday 12 April 2024, at Medway Magistrates Court, the court heard that on 17 and 18 August that Ashley Jones had used the badge to park closer to his accommodation whilst visiting Ashford. The vehicle displayed a badge that had been reported as badge holder deceased to the issuing authority, Bristol City Council, in August 2022.

Jones was not with his car when a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) was issued by a Civil Enforcement Officer on both occasions. However, both PCN’s had been appealed by JONES, questioning why he has been issued a ticket because none of the signs or the machine’s say he needed to do anything other than display his blue badge.

Kent County Council (KCC), who is the issuing and enforcement authority for Blue Badges in Kent, had been informed by the Civil Enforcement Officer about the multiple misuses of the badge.