Faking an address in an effort to get a Plymouth resident’s parking permit for her student son has cost a Worcestershire woman £740 in court fines and costs.
Mother of a Plymouth student, Wendy Dillon, of Alder Avenue, Kidderminster pleaded guilty to two fraud offences and two offences of counterfeiting at Plymouth magistrates. She was fined £130 for each of the fraud counts and ordered to pay £450 costs and a £30 victim surcharge
The fraud offences were for making a false representation for gain, in this case a parking permit for her son at a property she knew he did not live in.
The forgery and counterfeiting charges relate to two dates in December 2018 and January 2019 for supplying a false instrument to the Council, i.e. altered tenancy agreements for her son with the aim of getting a parking permit for him.
The court heard that her son was living in a property in Armada Street - a set of student flats which were not entitled to parking permits. Her son, Luke, had already applied unsuccessfully twice, before she tried again on his behalf using an altered address.
The Council’s permit team alerted the Council’s Corporate Fraud team after receiving yet another application for a Luke Daniels - using the same car registration number, but for an address further along Armada Street. A check revealed the tenant living there was not Luke Daniels.
Residential proof and a tenancy agreement was provided for 12 Armada Street, but on closer inspection, it was clear that the names and address had been altered.
Wendy Dillon got in touch with the Council when her son was invited for an interview under caution. She admitted she had submitted the fake applications. She said she had called the landlord to complain as the property had been advertised with parking, and that they had suggested she should apply under a new address in that area.
The magistrates were told that Dillon was mortified by her own behaviour. At the time she had not considered the consequences and had tried to help her son.
Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport said: “We hope this sends out the strongest message possible: do not try to dupe the system.
“Residents parking zones are brought in because there is already pressure on available road space in those neighbourhoods and developers hoping to build in those areas go in with eyes wide open. They are fully aware that those developments will not get permits. The onus is on any tenant or home owner moving in to check the parking arrangements.”