A Community psychiatric nurse working in the NHS has tearfully pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation at Bexley Magistrates court in the UK.

Sophie Adebayo, 38, was caught using a forged emergency health badge to park her car in a pay-and-display area near her home. 

The Health Emergency Badge is a London-wide scheme, which allows users to park on yellow lines and in residents’ bays and parking bays while attending medical emergencies in patients’ homes. 

A parking officer spotted the fraudulent badge in Sophie’s car, she had claimed she was working at the time she dishonestly displayed a copy of the badge in a restricted parking bay.

She also pleaded guilty to possessing an article for use in fraud, namely the photocopied badge, between March 31 and May 31, last year and making an article for use in fraud on March 31.

Adebayo was fined £507, with £1200 costs and must pay a £203 victim surcharge. 

Magistrate Michael Foley told her: ‘What you have done is wrong. You have paid the fines for parking, but that is no excuse for what you have done.

‘We have discussed the prospect of custody and what that would mean to you, but we have considered your remorsefulness and defence.

Adebayo’s lawyers had asked the council to drop the criminal case, pleading Adebayo is of good character with no previous convictions, this was refused.

The convictions will be reported to the Nursing and Midwifery Council and Adebayo may also face professional misconduct charges that could threaten her career.

Before leaving, Mr Foley told Adebayo: ‘Let this be a big wake-up call for you. You do things for the community, but this was very foolish, and we do not want to see you in court again.’