Cruel note accused wheelchair-bound woman of faking disability to get parking space

The blue badge holder, who was so upset by the ordeal that she says she is frightened to be identified, discovered the shocking note which read: “Take my place- take my handicap” on the windscreen of her car which was parked in a disabled bay at Aldi on Gateford Road in Worksop.

The 64-year-old was “fit as a fiddle” up until four years ago, but sadly became disabled due to suffering a horrific epileptic fit after developing a rare condition called celiac ataxia.

Her furious husband Paul Mills sent the note to the Guardian in the hope that it will make people think twice before “wagging the finger” at someone who is already suffering.

He said: “I was dismayed to find the note.

“Had the person who wrote it been more observant, they would have seen that, yes, I am not disabled- but my poor wife is.

“Normally, I will fetch a shopping trolley for my wife and she will wait until I get back to the car.

“Even though she is in a wheelchair most of the time, she can walk a little because she is able to steady herself on the trolley. This is good for her as it helps her to stay active.

“If people see that an able bodied person is parking in a disabled bay and then heading towards the entrance, where the trolleys are kept, hopefully they will then see me helping my wife to shop and not jump to silly conclusions.

“Had the unsigned writer of the note approached me, I would then have been able to explain that we were allowed to park in a disabled bay- especially as my wife has a blue badge which was displayed on the passenger side dash.”

Paul went on to explain that, sadly, this is not the first time his wife has had to face insensitive remarks about her illness.

“Because of my wife’s disability, we aren’t able to go on holiday much.

“But the last time we did, people complained because they allowed my wife on the plane first. The ignorance and insensitivity of some people is shocking, we don’t need it in our hometown too.

“I recognise that the person who wrote this note is disabled too and fighting their own battle, but they should know better. I hope this note encourages people to think twice.”