Mum fined for parking illegally in London – while in city!

A MUM was fined for parking in a London bus lane – while she was collecting her children from school in Nottingham.

Michelle Keiller was shocked to receive a £120 fine with a picture of a white van bearing her Toyota estate car's registration number illegally parked in south-east London.

Now she has to prove her innocence or pay up.

The 39-year-old mother-of-two from Whitemoor said: "I phoned my partner crying. It's scary, they're saying it's me but it's not.

"It's scary that someone's duplicated my number plate. It could have been more serious, like a robbery or something.

"I'm feeling really distressed that I've got to deal with all this, if it happens to an elderly person they might just go and pay it."

Miss Keiller was driving home after picking up her children from St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Hyson Green at about 3.45pm on January 29, when the van was issued with the ticket in London. Now she needs to send identification – and her car registration documents – to Lambeth Council, to prove that she does not own the van bearing her registration number.

"They're saying that I've got to deal with the phoning and the ringing but why should I? It's not my car.

"I'm feeling really distressed that I've got to deal with all this."

A spokesperson from Lambeth Council said: "We share Miss Keiller's frustration but it is important she sends us the requested documentation as proof as soon as possible so we can look to cancel the ticket."

Miss Keiller reported the incident to the DVLA and the police.

The DVLA said: "Vehicle cloning is something we've come across in the past, it's not as widespread as you think but is something that does happen.

"We are taking steps to try to stop this, we're working with the police to try to stamp this out."

delia.monk@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk