Dr Chirag Patel pleads guilty to two offences of misuse

Mr Patel is the co-founder of "Perfect Smile" a cosmetic dentistry firm with 9 branches in affluent places like Putney, Fulham, Parsons Green, Richmond, Muswell Hill and Battersea.

He was witnessed parking his £140,000 red ferrari california in Montserrat Road, Putney in December 2009. His dental practice in Putney High Street is just a few yards from this location.

The blue badge he was unlawfully using to park there was issued to the late father of Mr Patel's business partner - who it later emerged had died in August 2008.    

Mr Patel has pleaded guilty to two offences of misusing the badge, contrary to S.117 of the Road Traffic Regulations Act. However he has denied the more serious charge of having in his possession an item for use in connection with fraud - contrary to S.6 of the Fraud Act. 

Mr Patel's Ferrari photographed by WBC


Mr Patel's solicitor Mr Levy told the South Western Magistrates’ Court : ‘In October 2009, Dr Patel purchased for himself a business permit that entitled him to park in business bays in the borough. He changed cars on November 30, selling the car he had and buying a new one. At the end of November, beginning of December, he displayed a blue badge disabled permit that belonged to his partner’s late father that was sitting in the office."

A Wandsworth Council spokesman said:
"Abuse of the blue badge system is absolutely rife and it's crying out to be be reformed. Most of these unscrupulous drivers use an elderly or disabled relative's badge just to save a few pennies in parking charges - even though that means leaving their relatives languishing at home all day unable to get out. Using a dead person's badge when you're able to afford a Ferrari is particularly objectionable."

He continued:
"We have successfully prosecuted 360 motorists for a total of 1,388 offences and had returned to the public purse just under £428,000 in court fines and costs. Those we have caught have included solicitors, bank managers, builders, bus drivers and even the owner of a care home for the elderly."

Mr Patel is due back in court in November to answer the charges of fraud in connection wit the blue badge.