01 December 2023 , 22:18
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Ravel Morrison has been ordered to pay nearly £2,000 after he was caught using a blue badge belonging to a deceased person in Manchester city centre.
Morrison, 30, admitted that he bought the badge 'off someone in Old Trafford' and was convicted of fraud. The Jamaica international is a former Premier League player after spells with Manchester United, West Ham and Sheffield United - among other clubs.
The scam was discovered when a council parking warden noticed a white Audi parked on Bridgewater Street off Deansgate in Castlefield displaying a blue badge in May 2022. But it was found that the badge's owner had passed away the previous year.
Morrison collected his ticketed and impounded car later that day, according to a statement from Manchester City Council. He confessed during an interview under caution that he had purchased the badge from 'someone in Old Trafford.'
He pleaded guilty to one count of fraud at Manchester Magistrates Court on Thursday. Morrison, who resides in Westbrook, Warrington, was fined £1,000 for the offence. He was also ordered to pay costs of £508.32 and a victim surcharge of £400.
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A city council spokesperson said: "This ruling shows that the law is applicable to everyone, with no exceptions. I am grateful for the diligent work of our investigating officers as well as legal counsel who were able to successfully prosecute this case.
"Our officers patrol the streets daily to ensure that Blue Badges are used legitimately, and we will not hesitate to take action if we discover people trying to circumvent the law."
Morrison most recently played for Major League Soccer side DC United (Getty Images)Morrison graduated from Manchester United's academy after winning the FA Youth Cup in 2011. Other members of that successful team included future England stars Sam Johnstone, Michael Keane and Jesse Lingard, as well as 2018 World Cup winner Paul Pogba.
Morrison joined West Ham in January 2012. He played 24 times for the Hammers and completed loan spells with Birmingham City, QPR and Cardiff. The midfielder then played for Lazio in Italy, Atlas in Mexico and Ostersund in Sweden before returning to England.
Sheffield United gave Morrison a chance to revive his Premier League career in July 2019, but he made just four appearances for the Blades. He went on to play for Middlesbrough, Dutch side ADO Den Haag, Derby and most recently DC United in Major League Soccer.
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