HE battled for months to bring back traffic wardens to his neighbourhood after they were too scared to hand out tickets.

Council patrol officers feared they would be attacked and were told to stop issuing parking fines on certain roads while a safety assessment was carried out.

But after a bit of encouragement from pensioner Dennis Connell, who wanted the service to resume, the wardens returned – and slapped a parking ticket on his car.

The 66-year-old’s vehicle was parked outside his home of six years in Sycamore Road, in Shirley Warren, in the allocated disabled bay with his blue badge on show.

He was given a ticket because his badge was upside down.

Mr Connell, who has been registered disabled for 15 years, is outraged and feels he has been victimised by the wardens.

He said: “Am I being picked on because I am elderly and disabled? This is about poor innocent tenants in roads. He could see I had the blue badge.

“I feel I am being victimised because I am disabled and an easy target. Did it honestly warrant an on-the-spot ticket?

“He gloated about giving me the ticket when I asked why he couldn’t have knocked on my door or advised me to turn it around.

“I really fought to bring these people back in the area but if they adopt that attitude with other tenants, it is no surprise people get angry with them.”

Mr Connell appealed the fine, and when the Daily Echo contacted the city council, they said they had decided to cancel the penalty.

He said: “I am happy the council saw sense but think how much taxpayers money this has wasted.”

It was in November last year when the Daily Echo reported how traffic wardens abandoned patrolling roads in Shirley Warren, claiming they were subjected to verbal assaults, pelted with eggs and stones, and even driven at by angry motorists.

Council bosses say regular enforcement has returned to the area following a risk assessment.

A Southampton City Council spokesman, said: “We value Mr Connell’s previous input into parking matters in the past.

However, on this occasion Mr Connell had parked in a disabled bay and was given a ticket because the blue badge being displayed was face down and our Civil Enforcement Officer was unable to confirm its validity – in such cases it is quite usual to issue a penalty charge. This was explained to Mr Connell and how he could challenge the issue – which he has done.

“We have now considered Mr Connell’s case and his mitigating circumstances and as result we will be cancelling the penalty charge.”