Company boss parked fake plate cars on double yellow lines

A company director parked high value vehicles on double yellow lines having put fake plates on them so they could not be traced back to him, police said.

Julian King, 43, who committed the offences on at least 45 occasions over a period of about five years, was handed a legal bill of nearly £8,000.

King, of Withdean Road, Brighton, appeared at Brighton Magistrates' Court on July 27 charged with three offences of fraudulently using a vehicle registration mark and one of possessing an article in connection with fraud, Sussex Police said.

He was found guilty of defrauding Brighton and Hove City Council by parking numerous vehicles around the city in resident permit bays, loading bays and on double yellow lines dishonestly, knowing the plates displayed on the vehicles could not be traced back to him through the council's parking enforcement enquiries.

The court heard that he also evaded detection by concealing the tax disc in the vehicle on each occasion to prevent authorities establishing the correct owner's details. The offences involved several high value vehicles, including a Porsche, Bentley, Range Rover, Mercedes, Audi and BMWs, a police spokesman said.

He was fined £3,870 and there were also costs of £2,000, compensation to the council of £2,000 and a victim surcharge of £120.

A number of licence plates owned by King have been revoked by the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency, the spokesman said.

Pc Mark Bassett said: "While the offences in this case did stretch back over a number of years, when they came to light we were able to find the evidence we needed to bring about this successful prosecution.

"This wasn't a case of someone trying to get away with a quick stop somewhere they shouldn't or spending a little too long shopping. This was calculated fraud, pure and simple, and it has been rightfully punished."