CCTV caught blue badge fraudster shopping alone in Southsea

Bukhunt Singh outside Portsmouth Magistrates' Court

Bukhunt Singh was parked outside Waitrose in Marmion Road, Southsea, when a parking enforcement officer from Portsmouth City Council spotted him alone.

When Singh, 54, went into the shop, the officer looked at the badge and saw it was registered to a 69-year-old woman.

Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court heard that when Singh returned, the officer approached him but was told by Singh his sister and wife were shopping.

Singh caught on camera after using his sister's disabled blue badge while shopping alone in Waitrose in Marmion Road, Southsea

‘Mr Singh presented the badge for inspection, said that the badge was for his sister who was currently shopping in Waitrose with his wife,’ prosecutor Jenni Ager said.

‘He said he was waiting for them to come out to take them home.’

The officer handed the badge back, expecting the two women to arrive.

‘Instead, Mr Singh immediately drove off on his own,’ Ms Ager added.

A penalty charge notice was posted to Singh, of Salisbury Road, Southsea.

But he then appealed against the charge – claiming the badge was on display and that he had dropped his sister off, was told to pick her up but then told it was not necessary.

In the appeal notice he added: ‘I think it’s disgraceful behaviour on the part of the warden.’

In interview at the Civic Offices, Singh said he had dropped his sister and wife at public toilets near the supermarket. But he said he then got a call asking to take them to Tesco.

CCTV footage obtained by the council showed Singh arriving alone, parking up and going into the shop.

Asked why he lied to the officer, he said: ‘He’s not a police officer – just to keep it simple.’

And asked why he lied in the appeal, he again said: ‘Just to keep it simple.’

Robin Townsend, for Singh, said: ‘He very much regrets what he did, he realises how stupid he was.’

Singh must pay a £184 fine for the fraud, £439.78 prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

The penalty charge notice was just £35.

No separate penalty was imposed for using the blue badge.

Singh admitted unlawfully using a disabled person’s badge and fraud by false representation.