Heavy Fine for Motorist Who Used Deceased Family Member’s Blue Badge

A motorist has been prosecuted by the Council after fraudulently using a disabled blue badge which belonged to a deceased member of his family to park for free in Reading Town Centre.

Dr Emir Patel, of Rangeley Place, Reading, was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £2,477.50 at Reading Crown Court on 17 March, following the offence which took place a few months prior.

On 5 November 2025, a Council Civil Enforcement Officer came across a red Renault vehicle parked in a disabled bay at St Mary’s Butts displaying a blue badge which had expired on 3 July 2025. Subsequent enquiries confirmed that the original badge holder, Dr Patel’s late father, had passed away and that the badge had actually been cancelled in April 2025. Despite this, Dr Patel had retained the blue badge and placed it on display in the hire car he had collected that same day.

A penalty charge notice was issued and while the Council prosecution was suitable for a Magistrates’ Court hearing, Dr Patel elected for a trial at Reading Crown Court instead where he pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006 (Fraud by False Representation).  Dr Patel was ordered to pay a £560 fine and £1,917.50 in investigation and legal costs within six months. In addition, he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £244.

The recent case at Reading Crown Court follows a similar prosecution by the Council earlier this year. On 25 April 2025, a Council Civil Enforcement Officer observed a vehicle parked in a pay & display bay on Castle Street, Reading, displaying a blue badge that, although containing a genuine number, appeared to be a laminated copy. A criminal investigation which followed established that the badge reference number matched an original badge that had been reported stolen and replaced in May 2024.  On 26 January 2026, Reading Magistrates Court found Katrina Drummie, from Surrey, guilty of Fraud by False Representation (Section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006), determining that she had knowingly displayed a counterfeit disabled person’s parking badge with intent to make a gain for herself. She was fined £120, ordered to pay a £48 victim surcharge, and a £400 contribution towards prosecution costs.

John Ennis, Reading Borough 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. 

"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.”