A MAN given a parking ticket for leaving his car in a restricted area tried to escape the fine by driving off before the ticket was placed on the windscreen because he thought it “didn’t count”, a court was told.

Jeremy Brown, of Hall Green, Upton-upon-Severn, parked his Rover 416 outside Spar in the town’s High Street on Friday, June 4, at about 12.10pm.

Matt Dodson, prosecuting at Worcester Magistrates Court, said parking on the single yellow line was prohibited between 8am and 6pm and that signs were clearly visible.

While Brown, aged 53, went into the store to buy some gas and electricity, a uniformed police officer began to issue a fixed penalty notice.

Brown came out of the shop, approached the car and was asked by the officer if the vehicle was his.

Mr Dodson said Brown replied by saying: “What are you doing?

“You’re not putting that on my windscreen.”

Brown then got into the car and drove off before the ticket was given to him.

The following day the officer went to Brown’s address to give him the ticket and arrest him for obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duties. Mr Brown told the officer: “I thought if the ticket wasn’t on the windscreen it didn’t count.”

Brown pleaded guilty to the parking offence and obstructing a police officer.

Paul Stanley, defending, said his client was disgruntled for being singled out as there were other vehicles parked on the single yellow line. “He sees cars parked there, he parks there himself and is caught out.

“This is his first offence and will be his last. He is deeply sorry at wasting the court’s time and I doubt you will ever see him again.”

Brown was fined £65 for obstructing a PC and £60 for the parking offence. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Magistrates said they gave Brown credit for his guilty plea.