A MAN fraudulently used his dead wife's disabled badge to park in Bradford city centre because he was desperate for the toilet, a court heard.

George Kelly told a parking warden that the blue badge belonged to his partner Gillian and that she was at home. In fact, she had died almost nine months earlier.

Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court also heard that 64-year-old Kelly, of Station Road, Denholme, left the scene quickly after being questioned by the warden because he had "had an accident while rushing to the toilet".

Harjit Ryatt, prosecuting the case at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court, said Kelly claimed in a police interview that he had parked in a disabled bay on Piccadilly, on April 11 this year, because of he was desperate for the toilet.

"He said he had come into town to do some shopping and he had parked in a disabled bay in Piccadilly because of an emergency," said Mr Ryatt. "He said he urgently wanted to use a toilet. He had no money to buy a ticket and used his wife's blue badge.

"When he returned to the vehicle he panicked when he saw the wardens. He was also embarrassed because he had had an accident while rushing to the toilet and he smelled and wanted to return home to wash up."

The court heard that Kelly had already paid a parking fine of £35 for not having a valid ticket on the day.

Kelly, who did not appear at court and pleaded guilty via a letter from his solicitor, was fined £50 for using the blue badge. He must also pay £250 costs and a £20 surcharge. His wife died on July 14 last year.

The court also dealt with the case of a Bradford woman who fraudulently used a blue badge. Saima Chowdrey, 28, parked at the city's crown court on April 7 this year using a nine-year-old child's disabled badge.

Mr Ryatt said Chowdrey, of Carrbottom Road, parked in a disabled bay because she was late for an appointment at the court and "did not have time to find another space".

Chowdrey, who was not at the court today, but pleaded guilty in her absence, also claimed she parked in the disabled bay because the ticket machines were not working. The court heard that Bradford Council could find no faults with the machines.

Chowdrey, who had already paid a £35 parking fine for not displaying a valid ticket, was fined £50 for using the blue badge and must also pay £250 costs and a £20 surcharge.