Driver fined for using late grandmother’s blue badge
People who abuse disabled parking blue badges are being warned of confiscation and court action, following the latest prosecution of an Oxfordshire motorist.
An on-street enforcement exercise by Oxfordshire County Council’s counter fraud team led another person appearing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court last week.
On Friday 28 November, Jessica Holdsworth, 34, of Barbour Road, Abingdon, admitted illegally using a blue badge to park outside Templars Square in Cowley.
Miss Holdsworth used a blue badge to park on 15 January 2025. The council’s fraud team established during an interview under caution that the badge she was using had belonged to her grandmother who had died.
She was fined £307 plus a victim surcharge of £123 and the council was awarded costs of £911.
Councillor Dan Levy, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation, said: “The blue badge system is there for people who rely on it to help them remain mobile and independent. Those who abuse it deny vital parking spaces to people who really need them the most.
“Valid blue badges enable people to access goods and services and park near workplaces, supermarkets and health facilities. That is why we, as a council, will continue to take enforcement action to stop those misusing this service.”
The latest case follows the prosecutions of five people in September, December 2024 and January 2024 for similar offences.
Blue badge misuse is a criminal offence and can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record. A penalty charge notice will normally be issued to anyone misusing a disabled parking bay.
As well as removing blue badges from people who are misusing and abusing the scheme, enforcement is used to raise awareness of the importance of the badges for residents who really need them.
Inappropriate use of limited disabled parking bays can result in blue badge holders missing medical appointments, not being able to get out to buy food or get to work.
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