A Stevenage granddaughter has admitted using her grandmother’s Blue Badge to park her car in Stevenage town centre.

Zoe Rayner, of Webb Rise in the town, pleaded guilty to a charge under section 117 of the Road Traffic Regulation 1984 for falsely displaying a disabled person’s Blue Badge.

Stevenage Magistrates’ Court heard on December 8 how the 27-year-old had parked in a disabled bay at the Marshgate Car Park on July 6, displaying a Blue Badge belonging to her grandmother who was not with her.

The matter was investigated by the Hertfordshire shared anti-fraud service, who regularly investigate reported Blue Badge misuse.

During an interview with officers from the shared ant-fraud service, Miss Rayner claimed that she parked her vehicle in the disabled parking bay and displayed her grandmother’s Blue Badge prior to attending work at 9am.

Miss Rayner explained that she now appreciates that this was a misuse of the Blue Badge and she should not have displayed the badge when her grandmother was not accompanying her.

Miss Rayner, who was of previous good character, pleaded guilty at the first opportunity for which she received credit from the bench. She was handed a £150 fine for the offence and was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £200.

The shared anti-fraud service works in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council to investigate and prosecute allegations of fraud against the many services delivered by the council.

You can report suspected fraud in confidence. For more information, and to report your concerns, visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/spotfraud, email fraud.team@hertscc.gcsx.gov.uk or call 0300 123 4033.