Three drivers have been fined in court for misusing blue badges in Bexley.

Ms Dawn Payne of Lower Range Road in Gravesend, pleaded guilty at her hearing at Bexley Magistrates Court on September 23.

She was fined £120 and ordered to pay costs of £552 and a surcharge of £48 – a total of £720.

Miss Jerusa Francisco of Hawthorne Crescent in Greenwich, was proved guilty in her absence at a hearing at Bexley Magistrates Court on September 27.

She was fined £660 and ordered to pay costs of £400, investigation costs of £285, and a surcharge of £264 – a total of £1,609.

Mr Muhammad Baksh of Princelet Street in Tower Hamlets, pleaded guilty ahead of his hearing at Bexley Magistrates Court on September 27.

He was fined £589, ordered to pay costs of £400, investigation costs of £700 and a surcharge of £236 – a total of £1,925.

In all three cases, the drivers displayed the badges to take advantage of parking privileges they were not entitled to.

Cllr Richard Diment; Bexley's Cabinet Member for Places, said: “It’s particularly disturbing that all of these latest convictions involve the display of stolen Blue Badges.

“I’m very pleased though that through the vigilance of our officers, the offenders have been brought to justice.

“There can be no excuse for displaying a stolen Blue Badge, it’s dishonest, selfish and shameful.

“I wonder if these drivers realise the impact their actions are having on the availability of spaces for those genuinely disabled individuals who need to park close to their destination.

"Rest assured that we will continue with our daily checks to protect the Blue Badge scheme and take legal action in all cases of misuse.”

The Blue Badge scheme says that only people with disabilities that affect their ability to move around can get a Blue Badge.

This badge allows them to park closer to where they need to go.

The Blue Badges associated with all three incidents were issued by local authorities outside Bexley and Bexley residents were not involved in any of the incidents.

25 prosecutions have taken place for similar Blue Badge misuse-related offences in the borough during the last year.

Blue Badge misuse is a criminal offence that can lead to prosecution, a fine of up to £1,000, an order to pay towards the costs of the Council prosecution and a criminal record.