A solicitor who fraudulently used his wife's blue badge to park outside his Balham law firm was given two suspended jail sentences yesterday.

Mohammed Lodhi, a partner at A to Z Law Services in Balham High Road, was fined £1,000 and told to pay £1,989 in costs and ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid community service.

He was also given a three month suspended prison sentence for one fraud offence and a second 28 day sentence for a second fraud offence both suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid community service, fined £1,000 and told to pay £1,989 in costs.

Guilty plea

Earlier this month Lodhi, from Streatham, pleaded guilty to seven offences relating to blue badge abuse and fraud.

He was caught using his disabled wife's badge to park free of charge in designated disabled parking bays in Balham. he was also filmed on six separate days using the badge which enables holders to park for free in pay and display bays, resident and business permit spaces and, at times, on yellow lines. On no occasion was he accompanied by his wife.

When interviewed, Lodhi denied misuse of the badge and at South Western magistrates court he continued to deny all charges, electing to have the two more serious fraud offences heard at the crown court.

However, when at his first appearance in crown court, he pleaded guilty to all charges.

Wandsworth Council's transport spokesman, Councillor Guy Senior, said people like Mr Lodhi who manipulate and abuse the system should expect no mercy from this council or the courts.

He added: "Our team of investigators has successfully prosecuted more than 700 parking cheats whose selfish and illegal behaviour deprives genuinely disabled people from parking spaces and brings the whole blue badge scheme into disrepute."

The council called the theft of blue badges a "thriving trade" and said those it has already prosecuted for fraudulent use of a blue badge include civil servants, bank employees and an elderly care home owner.

Anyone with information about blue badge fraud should call 020 8871 8021 or 0800 085 0866 outside office hours.