I'm being taken to court after breastfeeding my baby in a parking lot. They're making me pay a £400 fine and it's SO unfair

A FUMING mother has attacked a car park operator for taking her to court over a £400 fine she received while breastfeeding her baby in a car park.

The fine was originally £60 and would have been a year late, but was heavily increased twice as she fought the decision.

Joanna Webb claims she was given an 'unfair' parking fine while breastfeeding her daughter — Joanna Webb claims she was given an ‘unfair’ parking fine while breastfeeding her daughterCredit: SWNS

Joanna Webb, 41, picked up the fine as she passed by South Mimms Services with her nine-month-old daughter Freya and mother Sue.

After jumping in MADAM for some snacks she then sat in the car and breastfed little Freya before they continued their journey.

Unfortunately, she claims she didn’t notice the signs in the parking lot stating that the maximum stay is only 30 minutes.

As a result, she had only just finished feeding her baby when she withdrew from services 49 minutes after arrival.

She was therefore stunned when a fine notice from MET Parking Services arrived in her letterbox in July last year, almost a year after the violation had occurred.

She said: “I couldn’t understand how I got one parking fine.

‘It just doesn’t feel fair.

“I literally stayed because I had to feed my baby and my mom had to go to the bathroom.

“I don’t deserve this and I don’t feel like my situation is being taken into account.

“This is a huge amount of money for me…I am one single mother on a budget.

My husband got over £10,000 in debt to get my dream boob job – it’s not my fault I needed a lift after breastfeeding my kids

“Why set up a store and facilities if you don’t give people enough time to use them?”

The fine demanded £100, dropping to £60 if paid sooner, but she contacted MET to try to explain her situation.

It has since risen to £170 and then again to £400 as the dispute continued.

Joanna will now go to mediation on November 20 and defend herself against the fine.

She added: “This is very upsetting and stressful.

“I am self-employed entrepreneur. I probably earn between €25,000 and €27,000 a year, and I don’t get any sick pay or holiday pay.

‘I don’t have any money for myself.

“Mine mortgage comes up for renewal within 18 months. If I get a CCJ I may not get a new mortgage. What should I do then?

“They said they could have waved the fee if I had told them I had to feed my baby, but how could I tell them that if I hadn’t seen the signs and didn’t know there was a 30-minute limit?”

SunMotors has contacted MET Parking Services for comment.