Former Manchester United player Ravel Morrison has been convicted of fraud for fraudulently using the deceased's blue disability credentials. When questioned, Morrison claimed he had bought the document from someone at Old Trafford for £50. He pleaded guilty to the charge in Manchester Magistrates' Court and was fined £1,000 and required to pay additional costs and victim surcharges. Manchester City Council law enforcement officers launched an investigation in May when they spotted a white Audi S3 parked on Bridgewater Street with a blue ID tag hanging from it.
The results of the investigation revealed that the holder of the document died in February 2022, making the document invalid. The vehicle was fined and impounded. A spokesperson for Manchester City Council stressed the decision showed that the law applies to everyone and that blue documents should be used legally. They commended their investigators and legal advisers for their diligent work in successfully prosecuting the case.
Morrison's career has been varied, having played for 13 clubs around the world since leaving Manchester United in 2012. His previous clubs include Lazio in Serie A, Atlas in Mexico and Den Hager in the Netherlands. Currently, he plays for Major League Soccer DC United and plays for the Jamaican national team. The fraudulent use of blue documents is a serious offence as the purpose of these permits is to facilitate the use of accessible parking spaces by persons with reduced mobility. Fraud undermines the purpose and credibility of the scheme, and such cases are pursued aggressively.