A HARLESDEN mother who copied her son's disabled badge so she could park in London, has been tagged, given a five month curfew and ordered to pay costs.
Brent Council took Diane Boothe, of Harlesden Gardens, to court where she was found guilty of fraud on Tuesday, November 16.
The local authority took action after her car - displaying the forged blue badge - was towed away from outside her home.
The badge was seized at a car pound and an investigation was launched by the council's audit and investigation team.
Councillor Lincoln Beswick, lead Member for crime prevention and public safety, said: "Blue badges are there to help disabled people find parking. This person's selfish actions have deprived genuinely needy people of spaces.
"Whenever a case like this is reported to Brent we will take all the necessary steps to investigate and protect disabled parking spaces for the people who really need them."
The council investigation revealed that the blue badge was a forged copy of the genuine badge issued to Tesfah Forde - Ms Boothe's severely disabled son.
Tesfah, who died in August 2009, was living in a care home when his mother was carrying out the fraudulent activity.
Boothe maintained her innocence over a drawn out prosecution which included eight appearances at Brent Magistrates' court and a further eight appearances at Harrow Crown Court.
But a guilty verdict was reached by the jury on October 19.
Boothe was given a community order for 12 months, with a five month curfew between 7pm until 7am monitored by an electronic tag.
She has also been ordered to pay £3,500 costs within 12 months.
