Jobsworth parking warden slaps ticket on shopkeeper as he digs out his car

Derek Rickard made an effort to get to his Rhythm and Booze shop, in Main Street, Garforth, early to clear several inches of snow gathered on his parking space outside the store as Leeds was hit with the worst conditions of the winter so far.

The 56-year-old had parked just yards away so he could shift the snow to make sure workers could deliver the day’s stock through the space before turning to see a warden, who admitted seeing him shovelling away, ticket his car minutes later.

He even claims that the parking warden told him that the fine was likely to be quashed if he complained about it to the Leeds City Council.

Mr Rickard, who lives in Belle Isle, said: “When I look around, there he is, it’s like he’s haunting me – I couldn’t believe it.

“It’s ruthless. His own words were ‘I saw you there shovelling snow’, he could have said ‘Excuse me sir is this your car?’ As I was 15ft away from where he was.”

Mr Rickard added: “Everybody was late except the traffic warden.

“It’s annoyed me really because I’m trying my best to protect my employees.”

He said his Volkswagen Passat was issued the ticket on Marshall Street, which normally requires a residents’ parking permit, yesterday just after 9.30am.

Mr Rickard plans to appeal and complain about the ticket.

The parking ticket costs £35 if paid within the first 14 days of receipt or £70 if paid after 14 days but within 28 days.

A council spokeswoman said: “Once the ticket is processed and if and when an appeal is received, we’ll consider it.”