My wife was hit with £100 parking fine after she pulled over as she was having a PANIC ATTACK – and they insist we pay
A FUMING husband has told how a cruel airport whacked his wife with a £100 fine despite her being forced to pull over for only "45 seconds" during a massive panic attack.
Annie Amos, 68, who suffers from heart palpitations, pulled into a no stopping zone at Bristol Airport to compose herself after receiving a worrying text from husband Steve who she was due to pick up.
Steve, 65, who has cancer and was experiencing severe reactions to radiotherapy, told Annie he had been moved to the front of the plane to be near the toilet amid delays due to Storm Franklin.
The text sent Annie into a panic leaving her "not fit to drive" which resulted in her car being picked up by cameras, despite her already paying for parking at two different zones in the airport.
Steve told : "She was heading back to another parking zone when she received a text from me advising we had aborted and were just landing.
"I am suffering from side effects of radiotherapy following chemo for cancer and my wife is obviously extremely concerned for my wellbeing.
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"She had a panic attack and pulled over to compose herself as she was not fit to drive. She stopped for 45 seconds to do this."
Steve - who was on a flight from Newcastle at the time - insists Annie could not see the parking signs because of the horrendous weather brought by Storm Franklin.
But despite clear reasons for the incursion, the couple from South Cheriton in Somerset have had their appeal chucked out by Vehicle Control Services Ltd (VCS) who dealt the fine.
Despite the hell Annie was going through, Steve claims he was told by the Independent Appeals Service (IAS) that they won't take into account extenuating circumstances.
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He also claims he didn't hear back from the firm when he asked if they could explain the appeals process to him.
Steve slammed: "At no time have the Independent Appeals Service (IAS) or VCS acknowledged my wife’s panic attack, instead they repeat the big signs mantra stating no parking time and time again."
The ordeal has left the couple devastated and despite the apparent injustice, he admits taking the company to court is "not an option".
He said this is because the pair are pensioners and "not in the best of health" and it's simply not worth the fight.
A spokesperson for Bristol Airport told BristolLive: “VCS has fully investigated the incident and reviewed the CCTV footage.
"Unfortunately, the customer stopped on double red lines and picked up another customer, causing road safety issues for other road users, customers and colleagues.
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"As road safety was compromised they are unable to assist further.”
The airport says there are locations for vehicles picking up and dropping off passengers and a free Waiting Zone offers parking for up to 60 minutes.
