Southend-on-Sea City Council has successfully prosecuted an individual for blue badge fraud, reinforcing its commitment to tackling abuse of the system.
On 31 October 2024, Mark Thomasson, 37, of Tickfield Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, was convicted at Southend Magistrates' Court of unlawfully using a disabled person's blue badge and failing to produce it for inspection without reasonable excuse. He was ordered to pay a £200 fine, £1,200 in costs, and an £80 victim surcharge.
The case began on 1 September 2023, when the Council's Counter Fraud and Investigation Team conducted a plain clothes blue badge fraud prevention and detection exercise in central Southend. Mr Thomasson was found parked in a Pay and Display bay, displaying a blue badge. When asked to present the badge for inspection, he refused and drove away.
Further enquiries revealed that the badge belonged to his father, who was not being carried or collected at the time. During the interview, Mr Thomasson claimed he had dropped off his father nearby and refused to present the badge, believing it might be a scam. He also stated he drove away to collect his father immediately after the incident, but CCTV footage did not support his account. The Magistrates found Mr Thomasson's testimony inconsistent and not credible.
Councillor Martin Terry, cabinet member for community safety, said: "This prosecution demonstrates Southend-on-Sea City Council's determination to crack down on blue badge cheats. Such misuse undermines a system designed to assist those with disabilities and impacts our community's resources. We are committed to protecting the integrity of the blue badge scheme and ensuring that those who exploit it face appropriate consequences."
The council's publication of this conviction is part of a broader strategy to deter fraud and reinforce the blue badge system's credibility. By taking decisive action, Southend-on-Sea City Council aims to safeguard the rights of legitimate badge holders and maintain public trust.
If anyone has suspicions concerning blue badge misuse or other types of fraud against the council, please call the Counter Fraud and Investigation Team on 01702 215254 or email CounterFraud@southend.gov.uk. All information received is treated in the strictest confidence.