Threat of arrest in row over Newcastle parking tickets
Sep 7 2010 by Alastair Craig, The Journal
COURT officials have threatened disabled Dave Athey with an arrest warrant in a long-running row over disputed parking tickets.
The former police officer has faced a five-year legal battle with Newcastle City Council and subsequently Her Majesty’s Courts Service over two £60 fines he says should never have been issued.
The 60-year-old received the tickets while parked in Newcastle city centre in 2005, where he works for the council as a financial assistant.
After the blue-badge holder refused to settle the bill on a matter of principle, the wrangle reached a crown court judge and has now ended in a final warning notice.
He has already been warned by bailiffs called in by HMCS that his mobility car could be seized if he doesn’t pay the £300 balance of the original charges, which now include costs.
In the letter sent to Mr Athey this week, HMCS said: “This matter requires your immediate attention.
“A distress warrant issued in respect of your outstanding fine has been returned to us from the bailiffs for appropriate action to be taken.
“Further action may be in the form of an immediate arrest warrant, which are treated as a high priority.
“You are required to pay the outstanding balance in full within 10 days. Failure to comply will result in the further enforcement action being taken.”
Mr Athey has had five discs removed from his back which left him struggling to walk.
The surgery which followed a serious car accident in 1991 means he is in constant pain and reliant on his mobility car to lead a normal life.
In July last year, The Journal told how the case was sent to Newcastle Crown Court after he appealed against an order by magistrates to pay £300.
Judge Esmond Faulks criticised the city council for pursuing the estimated £10,000 legal action, telling the court at the time: “In no other country but the UK could this possibly happen.
“Is it worth further expenditure of thousands of pounds out of your pocket and my pocket? Why not just let him off to get on with his life?”
