A MOTORIST wrongly accused of overstaying more than 15 hours in a Bradford car park has managed to get his £85 fine overturned – and is now urging others to appeal.

Mohammed Siddique was furious after he received a penalty letter from ParkingEye, alleging he had broken a three-hour limit at Forster Square Retail Park on April 5.

The penalty letter showed photos of his Vauxhall Astra arriving and leaving after 18 hours and 49 minutes but Mr Siddique said he had been home in between two separate visits and had kept a GP appointment the next morning before returning to the retail park to buy cheap bird seed he had seen the day before.

“That’s why I went back. I’d seen some bird seed but thought I might get it cheaper elsewhere. I’d slept on it but it had been troubling me I wouldn’t find a better price so decided to go back to get some the next day,” he said.

“I never leave my car parked overnight anywhere, no one in their right mind would leave their car overnight at a retail park anyway. ”

The 62-year-old, from Southfield Square in Manningham, was so angry he reported it to the police as fraud before appealing to ParkingEye, threatening to take further action of his own if the fine was not withdrawn.

“I said I wanted withdrawal of the fine and an apology. About two weeks later I got the fine cancelled, which is obviously good news, but did not get an apology.”

He said he was worried that other drivers in the same situation might not challenge the decision and end up paying.

“I didn’t get an explanation from them how it happened. I think this is wrong and an immoral way of making money out of honest and decent hard-working people.

“Do not pay up if you know you are innocent and they are wrong. Challenge them whether it is ParkingEye or any other parking company.”

A ParkingEye spokesman said Mr Siddique’s charge was issued in error which could have happened for a number of reasons such as dirty number plates, a high-sided vehicle getting in the way or tailgating.

He added: “We encourage people who have received a parking charge to appeal if they think there are mitigating circumstances.”