Furious driver lands £100 parking fine after pulling in for 66 seconds

"It's outrageous. I've effectively been given a parking fine for driving into a road, reversing and then driving off again.

- by Neil Fatkin

The words of digital consultancy director Steen Mauritzon after momentarily pulling up into what appears to be an empty loading area next to the Hilton Garden Inn in Sunderland on June 17, only to be issued with a £100 parking fine - reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days - a week later.

Steen, 49, who lives in Cleadon, said: "I had driven down to the area with my daughter and I momentarily pulled into the area next to the hotel to point out and show her where the Beacon of Light is as she has enrolled on a football coaching programme there and is going to be getting a bus to the Beacon of Light after school.

"After pointing it out I reversed back and drove off. I didn't even think about parking restrictions as I wasn't parking."

Steen was then left stunned when he was notified a week later that he had been issued with the fine by the Parking Group Ltd, the company which manages the parking in the area around the hotel.