Helen's battle with parking 'bullies'

Helen fell victim to the parking inspectors who have recently started patrolling the Castle Market in Sheffield.

She claims to have parked on the top loading bay and departed after 21 minutes - well within the 30-minute maximum.

She says she then returned at 2pm, parked in the bottom loading bay and returned after 10 minutes, to find she'd received a parking ticket.

Helen, of JC Books, approached security and, after checking CCTV tapes, she says the manager found the recording which proves her version of events.

She wrote to Vehicle Control Services urging them to watch the tape but so far the firm has simply continued to issue mounting fines. Debt collectors are demanding 140.

Helen, aged 50, of Sandygate Park Crescent, Sandygate, Sheffield, said: "I'm paying nothing. I would rather go to prison than give in to their bully-boy tactics.

"If I'd been one minute over I would have paid. But I can prove my story, and all it will take is for one of their people - who are there every day - to pop into the security offices and watch the tape.

"This could have been settled ages ago, but instead it's been dragging on for two months."

Helen says the inspector also wrote down the wrong model and registration of her car.

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MARTIN Atwood, technical director of Sheffield-based VCS, said inspectors logged car details as well as location in the car park and tyre and valve positions.

He said Helen's car was seen at 1.10pm and again in the same spot at 2pm, which is when the ticket was issued.

He added: "We have got enough evidence to suggest the ticket was issued correctly and in fairness it tallies with the information she has given.

"But we will watch the recording and if it proves Helen's story conclusively the ticket will be cancelled immediately."

See Action Desk next week for the outcome.