Three men have been found guilty of misusing blue disabled badges – including two who used badges belonging to their dead relatives – to get free parking.

The trio were caught using cancelled blue badges to park in restricted parking zones and disabled bays in Forest Gate last October by one of Newham Council’s ward enforcement officers. They were each found guilty at Thames Magistrates’ Court last week.

Davinder Singh Rehinsi, 63, of Lambourne Road, Ilford, was found guilty in his absence. He was caught parked in a disabled bay in Sixth Avenue, Little Ilford, with an invalid badge on October 17.

During the council’s investigation he told officers he had bought the badge in a pub. It was found to have been cancelled by its Essex owner. Rehinsi was fined £440 and ordered to pay the council’s investigation costs of £130 and a victim surcharge of £44.

Kalvinder Singh Sehmi, 52, of Pelham Road, Ilford, pleaded guilty to using his deceased grandmother’s badge for six months. He was finally caught misusing the badge when he parked in the Residents Parking Zone (RPZ) in Roseberry Avenue, Little Ilford, on October 20. He was fined £300 and ordered to pay the council’s investigation costs of £130 and a victim surcharge of £30.

Sandhu Major Singh, 60, of Lambourne Road, Chigwell, pleaded guilty to using his deceased father’s badge to park in the RPZ in Roseberry Avenue on October 29. He had been using the invalid badge for ten months. He was fined £336 and ordered to pay the council’s investigation costs of £130 and a victim surcharge of £34.

Cllr Ken Clark, cabinet member for building communities, public affairs, planning and regeneration, said: “These three thought they could flout the law but they were wrong.

“The blue badge scheme is meant to help disabled people park conveniently close to places like their homes, work or shops. It is not meant to be abused by people who want to park for free.

“This trio blocked vital parking spaces needed by disabled people, and now they have a criminal record. We are determined to ensure that all our residents are able to get around the borough as safely and smoothly as possible. Investigating the misuse of blue badges is another way that we are Keeping Newham Moving for all residents.”

The blue badge scheme allows people with severe walking disabilities to park in parking restricted areas. Holders can park free and for any length of time at on-street parking meters and on-street pay and display areas.

The maximum fine for blue badge misuse is £1,000.