Mum given fine for 'turning up 2 minutes late' smashed up parking warden's phone

01 February 2024 , 09:29

638     0

Lauren Cleere outside court (Image: MyLondon/BPM)

A school run mum who was slapped with a parking fine after turning up two minutes late lost her rag and smashed the parking warden's phone on the floor, a court heard.

Lauren Cleere shouted 'lies, absolute lies' from the dock at Croydon Magistrates' Court as she was given a community order and told to pay compensation of £100 to her victim. The 31-year-old was at school with her 12-year-old son when civil enforcement officer Elizabeth Ankrah issued the fine for 'parking on yellow lines' in July 19 last year.

Cleere appeared 'very agitated' and raised her voice at Ms Ankrah 'several times', then pulled the ticket off the car, prosecutor Shannon Thomas told the court. Cleere then marched back into the school to gather support from parents, and re-emerged continuing her tirade at Ms Ankrah.

"She got close to the point she grabbed her phone, smashing it to the ground, breaking it," said Mr Thomas. The loss of the £730 phone, which was owned by Ms Ankrah's employer SABA Parking, had a 'significant impact' on her work, Mr Thomas added. The whole incident was caught on body-worn video, but Cleere moaned 'I do not want to see it' and 'I'm not sitting here watching it' when District Judge Sushil Kumar asked for it to be shown in court.

"If you do not want to see it you can close your eyes then," he snapped. Despite rejecting her protests, due to a technical issue, the clip was not played. Defence Counsel Montserrat Casadevall said her client took full responsibility but claimed she had become frustrated on this particular day when 'everything came together'.

Nursery apologises after child with Down's syndrome ‘treated less favourably’

Lauren Cleere outside court (MyLondon/BPM)

My London reported, her partner and she had split, leaving her to look after their autistic son, and she had tragically lost a close friend, Ms Casadevall explained. "She begged the warden not to issue the ticket because it was only two minutes difference when the time was not allowed. She lost control of herself and is sorry for her behaviour."

After hearing her personal mitigation and financial woes, Judge Kumar decided against ordering full compensation but warned her against future 'unacceptable' behaviour. "It's not for you to take the law into your own hands and behave as you wish," said Judge Kumar.

"The damage you caused to the phone is not something you should get away with scot free and this conviction will reflect that. It's not for you to harass or attack people trying to do their job and earn a living. It's completely unacceptable."

Cleere, of Crown Road, Sutton, was handed an 18 month community order, with 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirement and a six month mental health treatment requirement. She must also pay compensation of £100 to Ms Ankrah.

Callum Cuddeford