A WOMAN who used her mother's disabled parking badge to enjoy an evening in the town centre has been hit with a fine.

Lisa Timewell, of Northumberland Avenue, was sentenced at Reading Magistrates' Court on November 23.

Licensing officers approached the 48-year-old's car, which was parked outside Reading Town Hall, in April.

Before leaving the vehicle, she displayed a blue badge belonging to her mother.

Councillor Tony Jones, lead member for Adult Social Care, said: “The Blue Badge scheme is for people with disabilities who need to park closer to their destination.

"Blue Badge misuse undermines the system and takes spaces away from those who genuinely need them.

"Thanks to the hard work of the teams involved, we are sending out the message this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated.”

Timewell admitted to the offence and was fined £120, ordered to pay costs of £150 and a surcharge of £30.

The court took into consideration that it was her first offence and accepted her guilty plea.