A POLICE community support officer who fraudulently used his mother- in-law's disabled parking badge five times has escaped with a fine.

PCSO Idrees Dasu, who is attached to a police traffic department, was fined a total of £375 and told by magistrates that he should have known better.

But National Car Parks, who helped in a police crackdown on blue badge misuse, said the officer could have been jailed or received a maximum fine of £1,000.

Dasu, 45, from Bromwich Street, Bolton, was caught using the blue badge in Bolton town centre on five separate occasions under a council and police crackdown on disabled badge cheats last year.

The blue permit belonged to his mother-in-law, Bolton magistrates were told.

Howard Sloan, prosecuting, said Dasu was spotted twice in August, once in September and twice in October.

Mr Sloan said that on one occasion, Dasu was seen parking a VW Passat on Johnson Street and placing a permit on the windscreen. He was alone - and regulations require badge holders to be present whenever they are used.

Mr Sloan said: "The badge was for a female between 18 and 64 years old.

"The badge holder was his mother-in-law.

"It was pointed out to him that he should have the badge holder with him when he is parking the vehicle.

"He accepted that he had not been following the instructions."

Dasu pleaded guilty to five counts of unlawful use of a disabled person's badge.

He was fined £75 for each offence and ordered to pay £43 court costs.

Magistrates told him: "We feel that the very nature of your job means that you particularly should know all the rules and regulations relating to disabled badges."

Dasu, who was not represented in court, said he would drop off his mother-in-law then park the car.

Outside court he said it was a `complete misunderstanding' but refused to comment further.

A Greater Manchester police spokesman said: "The PCSO is currently on restricted duties and now criminal proceedings have concluded the appropriate disciplinary action will be taken."