Four people were prosecuted for disabled badge fraud across the borough.

Barnet Council counter-fraud officers seized eight disabled badges on August 23 in spot checks in Finchley Central and North Finchley, two of which were found to be stolen and a further two were not seized but being misused.

Errol Lipman, 58, of Turners Wood, Golders Green ,was fined £1,000 and a victim surcharge of £100 after he was caught using a photocopy of a relative’s expired disabled parking permit to park his car while visiting a gym.

On August 29 he pleaded guilty to fraud and forgery offences at Willesden Magistrates’ Court.

Earlier in August Alisa Clarke, 21, of Barrons Close in Ongar, Essex, received a £250 fine, was ordered to pay £1,162 in costs and a £30 victim surcharge after pleading guilty at the same court to misusing a blue badge belonging to one of her relatives.

Another, Melanie Wilson, 37, of Gervase Road, Edgware, was fined by magistrates in July after being caught parking her car with a badge which had been reported lost, then failed to appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court and was found guilty in her absence.

She was ordered to pay the maximum fine of £1,000, costs of £950 and a victim surcharge of £100.

San Yang, 57, of The Grange, Whetstone, was given a £500 fine, ordered to pay £500 in costs and a victim surcharge of £50 in June after he pleaded guilty to using a relative’s badge to park, which was the second time he had committed the offence.

Barnet Council leader Cllr Richard Cornelius said: "These badges are intended to help those in genuine need and it is not acceptable for people to try and cheat the system in this way.

"These are criminal offences and anyone caught using one of these badges illegally can expect to be caught and ultimately face prosecution."

Blue badges are only able to be used by the badge holder, with anyone else misusing them committing a crime.

In another parking-related prosecution, Chikelie Chiwendu, 52, of Pendragon Walk, Colindale, pleaded guilty to two offences of fraud by false representation after he tried to avoid paying parking tickets by making false proof of an AA call out so it would seem his car had broken down when it was ticketed.

He was fined a total of £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,000 and a victim surcharge of £50 at Willesden Magistrates’ Court in July.

To report a fraud, call the fraud hotline 020 8359 2007 or visit www.barnet.gov.uk