Man who tried to use late dad's Blue Badge fined

A man who fraudulently used his late father's Blue Badge must pay more than £2,700 after a council prosecution.

Emir Patel, 33, of Rangeley Place, Reading, parked a Renault Clio hire car in a disabled bay at St Mary's Butts in the town on 5 November 2025.

The badge had been cancelled seven months before but he displayed it in the vehicle he had collected that day.

Reading Borough Council said Patel admitted fraud by false representation. It said he was fined £560 and told to pay investigation and legal costs of £1,917.50 at Reading Crown Court on 17 March. He must also pay a £244 victim surcharge.

John Ennis, the council's lead councillor for transport, said: "The disabled persons' parking scheme is a lifeline for residents who genuinely need it as it allows them to park close to homes or shops.

"The criminal misuse of Blue Badges completely undermines the system and takes parking spaces away from those who actually need them."

He added: "The council takes all suspected fraud and misuse of Blue Badges extremely seriously and will not hesitate to investigate all reports and, where it is possible, progress cases to prosecution.

"The size of the fines issued should be deterrent enough for anybody considering the fraudulent use of Blue Badges in Reading."