A Croydon motorist who used his dead mother’s disabled badge to park his car has been fined over £800.

Chris Mason, of Beech Road, used the blue badge parking permit on two occasions, alleging that his deceased mum was at home “sitting on the sofa”.

He parked on Fell Road and Mint Walk displaying the permit after attending Croydon Council’s offices hoping to be re-housed following eviction for non-payment of the rent at his previous address, in September last year.

Enquiries revealed that his mother had died during the previous September, and a death certificate was obtained.

When approached by a council investigation officer, Mason claimed that it was “news to him” that his mother had died.

The 53-year-old was fined £500, and ordered to pay £325 costs and £50 victim surcharge at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (May 2).

He failed to attend the hearing and ignored two invitations to interview with officers.

Cabinet member for communities, safety and justice Councillor Hamida Ali said: “This is an astonishing case in which, as well as illegally using his dead mother’s parking permit, he denies that she has died and [claims she] is actually waiting for him at home.

“This is a flagrant breach of the law which not only sees him gaining personal advantage, but deprives someone who genuinely needs to be able to park in that location of the opportunity to do so.

“We have a good record of clamping down on the fraudulent use of blue badges, and intend to carry on bringing the perpetrators to book.”

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