A forty-year old woman from Lewisham has been sentenced at Bexley Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to using a deceased person's Blue Badge to park following a successful prosecution by the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

On 28 April 2017, Ms Mesila Adams of Lethbridge Close, Lewisham, was sentenced at Bexley Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to using a deceased person's Blue Badge to park whilst attending college in Greenwich.

Spotted by Royal Borough investigators

Royal Borough investigators spotted her vehicle on 15 November 2016 parked in Royal Hill, Greenwich, displaying the Blue Badge. Officers checked the name on the Blue Badge and discovered that the registered owner was in fact deceased. They then saw her return to the car, confronted her about the use of the Blue Badge and confiscated it straight away. Her vehicle had also been seen on 1 November in Gloucester Circus, Greenwich, displaying the same badge.

Ms Adams attended an interview under caution with Royal Borough investigators, represented by a solicitor. She maintained that she did not know whose badge it was or that the badge holder was deceased, saying that a friend who had been a passenger in her car had left it for her to use. She could not give an address for her friend stating that she lived in Stratford.

Guilty party ordered to pay fines

Ms Adams subsequently pleaded guilty by post to one charge under Section 117(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

The Court took into account Ms Adams' guilty plea and imposed a fine of £180 and ordered her to pay costs of £470.80 with a £30 Victim Surcharge. A Collection Order was made to ensure recovery of the fines.

'Taking rigorous action to tackle blue badge fraud'

Councillor Maureen O'Mara, Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Anti-Fraud, said: "As part of its on-going commitment to prevent and detect fraud the Royal Borough is taking rigorous action to tackle Blue Badge misuse. This prosecution is good news for all genuine Blue Badge holders who so often are inconvenienced by other car drivers who take up valuable parking spaces whilst misusing Blue Badges they have no right to use."