A Chorley woman who used her mother’s blue badge to park her Porsche for free in Manchester city centre has been ordered to pay more than £500.

Joan Robinson, a 61-year-old housewife of Washington Lane, Euxton, Chorley pleaded guilty to the charge of blue badge misuse following a prosecution by Manchester City Council.

She was fined £235, ordered to pay £301.11 in costs and a victims of crime surcharge of £15 at Manchester Magistrates Court.

A council enforcement officer spotted her silver Porsche displaying a blue badge belonging to Robinson’s mother as it was parked on Southgate outside Kendals on February 23.

When the city council questioned her about the ticket she said her mother was in Marks and Spencer having coffee.

However pressed by the officer she admitted her mother was at her home in Preston at the time.

Councillor Richard Cowell, Manchester City Council's executive member for the environment, said: “The council is determined that genuine motorists who have to use the blue badge scheme are protected from people who abuse the system.

“We will not tolerate motorists like such as this woman, who take advantage and think they can get away with free parking. “Our officers patrol the streets looking for motorists illegally using other people’s badges, and motorists must be in no doubt that if we find evidence of blue badges being used illegally we will not hesitate to prosecute those responsible.”