THE identity of a disabled parking badge fraudster can be revealed, despite a council bid to keep it hidden.

Councillors in Mid Sussex criticised a decision not to “name and shame” a defendant who was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £6,000 court costs.

He was one of 14 who were prosecuted as part of a crackdown on those abusing the blue badge system.

It was revealed he had used a blue badge that did not belong to him to park near his workplace in Haywards Heath.

The Argus submitted a Freedom of Information request to council bosses.

It was denied by Brighton and Hove City Council, which brought the prosecution.

Council chiefs told us the authority “declines to disclose the information you have requested”, citing a legal exemption that it was personal information.

A council officer said: “I am not required to consider the balance of public interest for and against disclosure.”

But now an Argus investigation has revealed the culprit was 38-year-old Wahid Nazari, of Arnold Road, Tooting.

He was found guilty after a trial at Lewes Crown Court in February this year on three charges of using a disabled badge with the intent to deceive.

The news has been welcomed by former councillor Gordon Marples, from Hassocks, who had criticised the decision not to name the blue badge fraudsters at a Mid Sussex District Council meeting in March.

Mr Marples, a Conservative, did not stand for reelection as the councillor for the village on Thursday, ending his 16 years of service.

He said: “If you speed on the M23 or A23 and get three points, it is in the press. Why shouldn’t this be done for those abusing disability badges?

“I felt very strongly about it because it is a serious problem now. People continue to use and abuse the blue badges. I don’t think that is right.

“Naming and shaming those who do must be a good deterrent. A £1,500 fine and £6,000 costs is a serious amount of money.

“The council employs people in traffic enforcement, it is a difficult job where they face abuse, so seeing offenders named shows them that they are being supported.”

West Sussex County Council cabinet member Amanda Jupp said: “Blue badge misuse is not only fraud, but it can mean that genuine, vulnerable users are deprived of vital services because parking spaces are taken by fraudsters.

“This could include spaces near doctors’ surgeries, chemists or other community facilities. We won’t hesitate to take action against fraudsters who are depriving genuine blue badge holders of their ability to park.”