Ipswich Man fined £1200 for wrongful use of blue parking badge
He told officers he was working for a hospice
A man from Ipswich has been fined after he was found wrongfully displaying a disabled parking badge in the town.
Nurul Rahman, of Kelvin Road, pleaded guilty on the 17th June at Ipswich Magistrates court and was fined £153 as well as ordered to pay £1000 in investigatory and legal costs, and a £61 victim surcharge.
Rahman was caught out during a joint enforcement day in Ipswich where Suffolk County Council (SCC) and Ipswich Borough Council partnered to ensure proper use of blue badges.
When questioned about his use of the badge, which was issued by West Sussex County Council to a Hospice, Rahman said he worked for the Hospice and was dropping off a disabled person in town.
This seemed strange to the Officers and the County Council’s Fraud Service launched an investigation.
Despite Rahman’s claims that the Hospice also operated in Ipswich, the Hospice confirmed that they do not operate in Suffolk and were unaware their Blue Badge was being used in the county. They also had no link with Rahman and only support children.
Georgia Chimbani, Director of Adult Social Services in Suffolk said the prosecution “sends a clear message that the misuse of a Blue Badge will not be tolerated in Suffolk.
"This is not a victimless crime. Illegally using a badge that isn’t yours is denying a disabled parking space to those who have genuine need for them.”