I’m a single mum on Universal Credit and I was threatened by bailiffs at my home over £400 parking dispute

A SINGLE mum on Universal Credit claims she was “threatened” by a burly bailiff who demanded £400 from her over a parking dispute.

Jemma Martin, 31, branded the enforcement officer “disgraceful” after he “intimidated” her into handing over the cash – leaving her skint.

The mum, from Beechdale, Nottingham, had received a penalty notice after taking a family trip to Skegness last August.

She had decided to make the most of the Bank Holiday with her then-partner and two children, aged four and 18-months.

But after pulling up to the North Parade car park in the seaside town, Jemma realised there wasn’t enough room for them to open the car doors fully.

The 31-year-old saw there were no parent and child parking spaces and knew she would be unable to get her youngest into their trolley.

So Jemma instead opted to edge slightly over the border of the bay in a bid to create enough space.

But her master plan ended up landing her a parking ticket – which she has been battling with East Lindsey District Council about since.

Amid the continuing dispute, she was left horrified when a bailiff showed up at her home on April 4.

The furious mum told : “I had the bailiff at my door asking for £394. But I wasn’t financially in a position to pay that.”

She explained she relies on Universal Credit as she only works two hours each day as a midday supervisor at a local school.

And after splitting with her partner, cash-strapped Jemma had no idea how she could afford to stump up for the fine.

But after telling the enforcement officer she could not pay, she claims he threatened to take her car – before realising he couldn’t as it was financed.

The debt collector then allegedly “threatened” to enter her home and take her possessions, saying he would force his way in if she did not comply.

Jemma continued: “I had a bloke in front of me telling me he could break into my home and take my things.

“I was very intimidated, he was quite a big bloke. I am five foot two inches, what could I do?”

The single mum says despite the form left by the bailiff stating that she had paid voluntarily, she only coughed up as she felt “threatened”.

She claims she has now been left struggling financially after handing over a “massive chunk of her monthly allowance”.

Jemma added: “I have got my mum I can rely on, but that’s to borrow, not to have.

“I’ll have to pay it back, so it will be a while until I’m on top of things.” 

She claims she was told by East Lindsey District Council the bailiff officer may not have acted appropriately.

The Sun have contacted East Lindsey District Council for comment.