Veteran who lost legs in Afghanistan fined £60 for parking in disabled bay at iceSheffield

Former Lance Corporal Tyler Christopher was fined £60 for using the bay without displaying a blue badge, and he was later taken to court where he was ordered to pay an increased penalty of £150, as originally reported in The Sun.

The 36-year-old, who was injured in a Taliban explosion in 2009, says he was waiting for his blue badge to arrive when the fine was issued.

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Mr Christopher, who captains Team GB’s para ice hockey team, had travelled to the rink to represent Cardiff Huskies at the home of the Sheffield Steelkings on July 21 last year.

He appealed the fine but ended up appearing via phone at court in Carmarthen, near his home in South Wales, in August 2020, when he was told to pay Vehicle Control Services £150.

The Sheffield-based firm insists it acted correctly, though it has offered to donate the money to the Royal British Legion or another charity of Mr Christopher’s choice as a gesture of goodwill.

But Mr Christopher, who says his blue badge arrived the following day, is still fuming and insists ‘common sense’ should have prevailed.

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“I’d driven up from London and was asleep in the car with my window open when the fine was issued,” he said.

"The warden who issued the ticket could clearly have seen my wheelchair in the back and could have seen me and my prosthetic legs too.

"It's quite frustrating that even after I sent the evidence of my blue badge, which was issued the following day, they wouldn’t overturn the fine.

"I’m still annoyed that they didn't just show a bit of common sense. If someone can prove they’re disabled why do you need to chase the fine?”

A spokesperson for Vehicle Control Services said: “The terms and conditions for parking in a disabled bay required a valid blue badge to be clearly displayed in the vehicle windscreen, as set out on the signage at the car park.

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"Whilst we note that Mr Christopher was waiting for a new badge, he could have contacted the prominent helpline number displayed on our signs for advice rather than assume he could park in breach of the terms and conditions.

"There is no evidence, including evidence from our patrol officer at the time of the parking event, that Mr Christopher was asleep in the his vehicle when the parking charge was issued.

"Furthermore, no reference was made to this in his appeal, in which he stated that ‘at the time of this ticket there was a disabled hockey game taking place in the ice arena...’.

"We would also note from the evidential photographs that the rear windows of Mr Christopher's car are modified and blacked out.

“Whilst we declined Mr Christopher's appeal he was given the option to have his case adjudicated by the Independent Appeals Service (the IAS), but he did not take up this option.

"We are satisfied that the parking charge was issued correctly and supported by the court's decision. However, upon receipt of full payment of the parking charge, we will donate it to the Royal British Legion or another charity of Mr Christopher's choice.”