I’m a cancer patient and was slapped with an £80 parking fine after pulling over for medical emergency… it’s ridiculous
A CANCER patient has been left "disgusted" after being fined for making an emergency stop.
Derek Ellerbeck, 71, was forced to pull into a red zone parking bay after the bottom of his colostomy bag exploded over him.
After cleaning himself up for around ten minutes, the pensioner went home and got on with his day.
But to his horror, a massive £80 fine came crashing through his letterbox a few days later.
The retired driver from Limehouse, East London, told The Sun: "I was just so disgusted.
“I had to pull over to clean myself up. The last thing I expected was a ticket. £80 is ridiculous.
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"They are taking the p**s. It’s all just income for them."
Derek said he pulled into the bay on Commercial Road, East London, at around 8.25pm on July 13.
And while knew he was on a red route, the road was quiet and he was outside no stopping hours of 7am-7pm as stated by a nearby sign.
"I thought naturally, gone eight, should be alright", he explained.
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Derek had in fact parked in a spot with no parking allowed, but he says poor road markings and the emergency meant he didn't realise.
He darted into a bookies to clean himself up, but left after too many people were in there as he felt it would be "too embarrassing for them".
"I couldn't give a rats a**e but I didn't want to expose myself to them", he stressed.
Derek got back in his car for around 5-10 minutes.
The grandad, who carries spare supplies in case of an emergency, added: “I took the end and cleaned that and sealed it as best I could.”
He told he had only gone out driving because his carer and grandson back home were hungry for chips, but he had the accident shortly after eating them.
Derek, who has lived with cancer for two-and-a-half years, was originally diagnosed with bowel cancer but just before that cured it spread to his liver.
The grandad has not paid the fine, but has appealed it, outlining his medical situation.
Transport for London, who dealt the ticket, deny he has appealed it.
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A TfL spokesperson said: "This must have been a distressing situation for Mr Ellerbeck.
"Mr Ellerbeck has not yet submitted an appeal, but we are looking into the incident and ask him to contact us with further information.”