Angry Santa refuses to pay parking ticket given to his ‘sleigh’ while he handed out toys
A Santa Claus has been rather naughty this year and is refusing to pay a parking ticket for his sleigh.
Mick Worrall, 75, says he’s prepared to go to court and face the council ‘scrooges’ over the matter.
Nicknamed ‘Chicken Mick’, the Santa was handing out sweets and teddies when he was issued with the ticket in Worcester city centre.
When he was approached by the traffic warden, eyewitnesses said they saw him shouting.
Mick refused to accept the parking ticket, telling the warden ‘to send it to the North Pole’.
He was collecting for New Hope Worcester Children’s Charity, which helps families who have children with disabilities and complex healthcare needs.
Mick insisted he was not driving the sleigh around the streets – he said he crawled along at 2mph before parking up to hand out the gifts.
He now says he hopes the council will scrap the ticket and he plans to return to the city centre on December 21, 22 and 23.
‘I won’t let the children down. I get pleasure from putting smiles on the faces of the children,’ he said.
‘I will go to court dressed as Father Christmas if I have to.’
The scene was captured by 12-year-old Jake Fox who said: ‘I told the traffic warden: “You can’t do that! Santa is doing a good thing.”‘
Mick’s friend, Stuart Hackett, who was dressed as a Christmas tree, said he will support him if it goes to court.
He said: ‘There’s got to be rules – but it’s Christmas time! They have got to expect someone to come along as Father Christmas to get people into the festive spirit. I would like them to scrap the ticket.’
A Worcester City Council spokesperson said they could not comment on individual cases but confirmed the fine was issued for ‘driving in a pedestrian zone’.
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