A Beckenham man caught misusing his mother-in-law’s Blue Badge for disabled drivers has been fined more than £1,000.

Jason Griffin, of Manor Way, claimed his mother-in-law was shopping at Intu Bromley, but declined the opportunity to prove it when approached by a civil enforcement officer in Ethelbert Road earlier this year.

Before giving his verdict, the district judge concluded Griffin’s account of events was “a story he made up because he knew he had to”.

This latest conviction brings the total to 22 prosecutions since the start of a Bromley Council crackdown which was launched to protect the integrity of the Blue Badge scheme.

Approximately 200 badges are checked every day across the borough.

Cllr Lydia Buttinger, executive assistant for environment, said: “This conviction is the latest in a string of similar cases involving the use of a Blue Badge when the badge holder was not present or part of the journey. This is the most common form of misuse in Bromley.

"Any driver who is thinking about misusing a Blue Badge in this way should know that it is only a question of time before they are caught – they must ask themselves if it is really worth risking a fine and a criminal record.”