A County Durham lad has been slapped with a £100 fine despite leaving a Darlington car park when he realised he couldn’t pay.

Karl Bracken, 19, spent just 13 minutes in the Feethams Leisure Car Park and tried to pay online during a trip to see Top Gun Maverick back in June, when he says the website wouldn’t accept his payment.

Thinking nothing of it, student Karl and brother Adam decided to move and park up elsewhere, but he has now landed a £100 fine after the car park's owners said he was there eight minutes too long.

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Karl, 19, from Ferryhill, told The Northern Echo: “It took me a few minutes to get to a bay because there were people pulling in and out in front of me.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Karl Bracken's Parking Charge Notice showing he was parked for just 13 minutes before deciding to leave the car park when he says his payment would not process. Picture: STUART BOULTONKarl Bracken's Parking Charge Notice showing he was parked for just 13 minutes before deciding to leave the car park when he says his payment would not process. Picture: STUART BOULTON (Image: STUART BOULTON)

“I didn’t have any change so went to pay online but it wouldn’t take the payment.

“I thought it’d be easier to just go and park somewhere else, which we did, but three weeks later I got a letter saying I’d been fined £100 because I was there longer than the five minutes they give you to pay after entering the carpark.”

Karl and his mum Vikki have now been fighting the fine with parking firm Excel Parking which manages the Darlington car park, but so far the company hasn’t budged on the penalty.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Feethams Leisure Car Park where Karl and Adam tried on June 30 when going to see Top Gun Maverick at the Vue Cinema. Picture: STUART BOULTONFeethams Leisure Car Park where Karl and Adam tried on June 30 when going to see Top Gun Maverick at the Vue Cinema. Picture: STUART BOULTON (Image: STUART BOULTON)

Vikki Bracken, a former nurse, said: “It's unfair - I don’t understand how they can fine him when he tried to pay and left when he realised he couldn’t. He did the honest thing and parked somewhere else.

“If it’s really busy it could take anyone more than five minutes to get parked up and go to pay.

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“Karl has autism and struggles reading so it probably took him longer than some people to read the signs on how to pay. Companies are meant to make reasonable adjustments for anyone with a disability like giving more time but Excel just totally ignored our point.”

Darlington and Stockton Times: Karl, 19, says it took him more than the five minutes allowed to park up and pay after entry, just to get to a bay. Picture: STUART BOULTONKarl, 19, says it took him more than the five minutes allowed to park up and pay after entry, just to get to a bay. Picture: STUART BOULTON (Image: STUART BOULTON)

In a letter sent to Karl by parking firm Excel, and seen by The Northern Echo, the firm said: “Having considered the points you have raised and reviewed our records, we are unable to accept your appeal.”

They also stated that larger disabled bays and lower payment machines mean they meet the requirements for ‘reasonable adjustments’ to be made under the Equalities Act.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Karl and Adam outside the car park, where they say they will avoid in the future. Picture: STUART BOULTONKarl and Adam outside the car park, where they say they will avoid in the future. Picture: STUART BOULTON (Image: STUART BOULTON)

But Vikki added: “Karl’s physically fit so none of the adjustments they talk about are going to be any help to him.”

The Northern Echo contacted Excel Parking but they failed to reply to our request for comment in time for publication.

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