A pensioner’s forgetfulness has landed him with a £125 fine courtesy of parking officers at Tooting Leisure Centre.

Roel Goffe, 76, who has used the centre for 30 years, came out from his weekly swim to find his car clamped.

When he tackled staff, he realised he forgot to leave his registration number at the desk, but was treated as if he had parked illegally anyway.

He said: “When I found my car clamped I went to the desk. The manager was on holiday.

“They weren’t very helpful at all. They just gave me the phone number of the clamping company and I had to pay.”

Mr Goffe is the victim of a new rule forcing all leisure users to register their cars at the desk, designed to prevent other people abusing the car park.

Even though he was parked perfectly legally, his appeal to London Parking Control Ltd was rejected.

He said: “I have been going there for such a long time. I’m a loyal customer to them, but that’s obviously not good enough. It’s so unfair.”

But when contacted this week, Tooting Leisure Centre claimed the appeal was ongoing, even though the incident happened two months ago.

Tracy McNeela, manager, said: “He has written to us, and we are in the process of responding to him.

“They have turned down his appeal, but as a gesture of goodwill we will be trying to do something for him.”

London Parking Control Limited were not available to comment.

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