Blue badge fraudster priest may face more charges – The Argus

A PRIEST found guilty of fraud for using a dead womans disabled badge could face more charges.

Father William Haymaker arrived at court yesterday to be sentenced for the offence. But the hearing was adjourned as it emerged he would be investigated over fresh allegations of more similar incidents.

The ordained minister, a rector of St Pauls Anglican Parish in Bexhill which is part of the Anglican Independent Communion, was caught parking in a disabled bay using a blue badge belonging to a woman who had died two months before.

The 62-year-old was prosecuted by East Sussex County Council and stood trial in March after being stopped by a traffic warden in Western Road, Bexhill, in December 2015. A jury took just 45 minutes to unanimously find him guilty of possessing an article for use in a fraud.

Haymaker, who lives in Suffolk Road, Bexhill, claims to provide pastoral care for terminally ill parishioners which includes driving them to health appointments and to run errands.

But a council spokesman said rather than admit the offence and face a fine, he continued to plead his innocence and the case went to trial.

Yesterday Judge Christine Henson postponed his sentencing after the councils solicitor advocate Gareth Jones said another alleged offence of a similar nature had come to light.

Judge Henson said it was not for her to decide but investigators and prosecutors may want to establish if this was a modus operandi for Haymaker rather than a one-off before his punishment is set.

Mr Jones said: [The latest allegation] does need to be thoroughly investigated.

The legitimacy of Haymakers position as a minister was also called into question during the hearing. But speaking to The Argus after the hearing, he said documentation proves he has been officially ordained.

The council yesterday confirmed a further investigation will be launched to see if he has committed other acts of blue badge fraud. Whether Haymaker will face further charges will be discussed tat he next court hearing on May 26.

Haymaker, who was accompanied to Hove Crown Court by his official clerical dog The Venerable Mr Piddles, branded the case a very sad series of events when he spoke to The Argus afterwards.

He said it had been an honest mistake and his actions were not malicious. But he denied the suggestion he had committed more crimes of this nature.

Mark Jobling, the councils enforcement officer who caught Haymaker in the act, said: This is in no way a victimless crime. Every time someone fraudulently uses a blue badge, they are taking up spaces which are needed by people who are genuinely disabled.

We were disappointed that Haymaker consistently refused to admit the offence, but this case clearly demonstrates how seriously we take the misuse of Blue Badges.

We hope this sends out a strong message that Blue Badge fraud will not be tolerated in East Sussex and that we wont hesitate to prosecute offenders.

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Blue badge fraudster priest may face more charges - The Argus