Portsmouth OAP sold parking permits to security guards

Tammy Marsh and Sandeep Singh were caught on August 21 last year after they altered visitor parking permits when they were working in Portsea.

Pensioner Elwyn Hendon, a former principal trading standards officer at Southwark borough, had bought the permits and resold them to the security workers, amid claims he feared for their safety because of ‘an imminent terrorist threat’.

‘He (Hendon) admitted to the investigator that he bought the permits and re-sold them to the security guards as he feared for their safety whilst working in the local area,’ a council spokesman said.

He added: ‘Mr Hendon cited an imminent terrorist threat and local drug dealers to be at the forefront of his mind at the time.’

Marsh and Singh, both dog handlers, were caught using expired permits that had been altered.

Marsh, 29, of Donegall Close, Coventry, claimed she was given them by Singh so they could park for free while working.

In his statement to Portsmouth City Council, Singh, 28, of Coxwell Road, London, said he bought three books – totalling 30 permits – from Hendon, 70, to use while working. After they expired he altered them to continue parking for no extra cost.

All three were prosecuted at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court by the council.

Hendon, of St James’s Street, Portsea, pleaded guilty to using parking tickets with intent to deceive, relating to allowing Singh and Marsh to use the permits.

They are only allowed to be used by people who are legitimate visitors.

Hendon was handed a six-month conditional discharge with £50 prosecution costs to pay.

Marsh, who together with Singh is an SIA licensed security worker, pleaded guilty to making or supplying articles for use in fraud and using parking tickets with intent to deceive.

Magistrates fined Marsh £100 with £348 prosecution costs to pay.

Singh admitted two counts of using parking tickets with intent to deceive and a count of making or supplying article for use in fraud.

He was fined £120 with £85 prosecution costs.

The trio were dealt with in separate hearings at the magistrates’ court.