I’m disabled and couldn’t get to my parked car quickly enough – I’ve been fined £400 and I’m being hounded at 7am

A DISABLED man who couldn’t get to his parked car quickly enough has been slapped with a £400 fine.

The man claims that he’s being hounded by bailiffs who visited him at 7am demanding he pays the fine.

Ian Richards, a former taxi driver, admitted that he made a mistake after he parked in a taxi rank in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire last year.

Speaking to Gloucestershire live, Ian Richards said: “I think it’s disgusting. I told the council I was really sorry and that I didn’t realise it had become a taxi rank.

“I’m getting penalised because I’ve got a disability. I could understand it if I was fully able – that would be my own silly fault. But I’m not and it’s out of order.”

He wasn’t aware that where he’d parked his car was a taxi rank after 6pm – he arrived later because it was difficult for him to walk to his car due to his condition.

Richard was diagnosed with diabetes and had a kidney removed in 2018 and has mobility and memory problems due to his medication.

Richards feels that he has been mistreated by the local council and the fine has now reached £424

He says he doesn’t mind paying the fine in instalments, but the debt collector has told him that he has to pay the full amount.

Richard’s carer, Corinne Cleverly, thinks that he was unfairly fined.

“I think it’s outrageous that a disabled person is being penalised for not physically being able to return to their car in time,” she said.

“In my opinion, the ticket should have been overturned when it was appealed.”

A spokesperson from Gloucestershire County Council said: “A penalty charge notice was issued at 6.44 pm because Mr Richards’ vehicle was parked where a taxis-only restriction applies after 6pm.

‘We wrote to him on several occasions, including four statutory notices, to let him know that the penalty charge would increase over time if left unpaid, and encourage him to contact us to avoid the charge being referred to bailiffs.”

Gloucestershire County Council confirmed that bailiffs are only used as a last resort and they requested Ian Richards to contact them as soon as possible to find a solution.