6 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2018 LEICESTER MERCURY

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❚❙ Council applauds intentions, but refuses to rescind veteran’s ticket

Charity man hit with fine for

parking in deserted bus lane
A charity volunteer who
stopped to give a homeless
person warm clothes on
Christmas Day has been fined
for parking in a bus lane.
Lee Williamson, an Army
veteran who works with a re-
gistered charity to help rough
sleepers, explained the situ-
ation to Leicester City Council,
but officers have refused to res-
cind the £70 penalty.
This is despite the city centre
being deserted on the day, with
no buses or trains running.
Lee, an Evington carpenter
who served as a soldier for five
years, spotted the homeless
man outside Leicester railway
station on Christmas morning.
The 43-year-old decided on
impulse to pull over and give
the man a hat, scarf, gloves, a
blanket and a bag containing
some festive treats.
He had the supplies in his car
due to his work with Once, We
Were Soldiers, which carries
out patrols to speak to home-
less veterans and also supports
other homeless people.
“I was dropping off my daugh-
ter at work just before 10am,”
said Lee. “I saw the homeless
guy outside the station.
“There was literally no traffic
at all and there were no buses
on Christmas Day.
“I pulled up and gave him
some hats, gloves, scarves and
food. He was absolutely over
the moon. He was sat there on
his own without another per-
son in sight.
“I spoke to him for a bit and
when I left I didn’t think any
more of it.”
BY JACOB JARVIS
However, on January 3, he
was issued with a penalty
charge notice for £70 by
Leicester City Council.
Lee appealed against the fine,
sending an e-mail to the
authority explaining the situ-
ation.
Despite this, the city council
sent him a letter last week and
said that the fine stood.
“We have carefully con-
sidered what you say but we
have decided not to cancel your
ticket,” the letter read.
“While we sympathise with
your situation and applaud
your intentions, the CCTV was
specifically introduced to pre-
vent drivers stopping briefly at
this point on London Road,
primarily because it is not
safe.”
The letter also referenced the
death of cyclist Sam Boulton as
a reason why people cannot
stop there.
In July 2016, the 26-year-old
teacher was knocked off his
bike by a passenger getting out
of a taxi at the station, which
caused him to fall into the path
of a van in busy lunchtime
traffic .
However, Lee said he feels like
he is “being punished for doing
something good”.
“It’s not like I’ve parked up to
go to the shop,” he said.
■ Is the council right not to res-
cind the fine? Let us know by
writing to Mailbox, Leicester
Mercury, 16 New Walk,
Leicester, LE1 6TF or e-mail:
mailbox@leicestermercury.co.uk NO PARKING: Photo evidence sent to Lee Williamson shows him pulling over at the train station in an otherwise-deserted city

KITCHEN WORKTOPS Drive with a smile, Jeweller’s death: Fourth

Leading fabricators & installers of high quality solid
surface kitchen worktops Corian® / Staron / Hanex / Hi-Macs / Avonite
after making extra money selling privately man appears in court
A FOURTH man has appeared in
court over the kidnap and rob-
bery of Belgrave jeweller Ram-
niklal Jogiya.
The 74-year-old’s body was
found in a country lane in
Stoughton on January 28,
prompting police to launch a
murder investigation.
Javon Roach (29), of Norwich
Road, Beaumont Leys, ap-
peared at Leicester Magis-
Come & visit our factory showroom to discuss new projects or trates’ Court yesterday.
the replacement of your old kitchen worktops He did not enter any pleas to
10 year manufacturer backed warranty. Sold £40 the charges of kidnapping Mr
Jogiya and robbing him of his
shop keys on January 27.
During a 30-minute hearing,
Roach, dressed in a grey track-
©LW
in custody to appear at
Leicester Crown Court on Feb-
ruary 28.
A bail application was made
by Roach’s lawyer, but refused.
Roach will appear at the
crown court alongside Thomas
Jervis (23), of Enderby Road,
Whetstone; Charles Frances
Mcauley (20), of Gooding Aven-
ue, Braunstone; and Callan
Reeve (19), of Aylmer Road,
Braunstone. All four face rob-
bery and kidnap charges.
Two other men, aged 22 and
18, have been released under
investigation and two more,
aged 20 and 21, have been re-
leased with no further action.

suit, spoke only to confirm his ■ Yesterday, a ninth arrest was

14 The Warren, East Goscote Ind Estate Leicester LE7 3XA name, address and date of made in connection with the
CALL US FOR A FREE QUOTE ON 0116 2604455 Est 2001 birth. case when a woman, aged 22,
www.premiertradesurfaces.co.uk / info@premiertradesurfaces.co.uk leicestermercury.co.uk/marketplace Prosecutor Kwok Wan asked
magistrates to remand Roach
was detained on suspicion of
conspiracy to kidnap and rob.