I parked outside the Medical Assessment Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford to collect my wife, who had been admitted the previous evening.

I went home at 12.15am, having been there since 5.15pm. I was told to return at 11am to collect her the next day.

I arrived just after 11am and looked for a disabled parking spot. All were filled, but I waited 15 minutes hoping one of the short stay spots might have been vacated. My local supermarket in Witney has more disabled spots than the hospital!

None became vacant and as I was due for a hip operation and any walk over 25 yards was very painful and very slow, I looked around for a parking attendant for advice.

There was no attendant and no service. I therefore parked next to one of the disabled spots, my disabled badge displayed, and made certain that I did not hinder pedestrians or cars.

After parking, I limped into the hospital to collect my wife. She was discharged at 1.30pm as her prescription had been lost.

Reaching my car, there was a parking ticket attached to the windscreen.

Two weeks later, I had a letter from a solicitor in Southampton, asking me to pay my parking fine. I said I wished to challenge the fine.

I was then told that this would mean paying other costs. As I felt I had a case, I said that I would like to go to arbitration.

Inevitably, my case was referred to the court in Oxford and I duly appeared on November 28. I appeared in front of the judge who said she was sympathetic, but as I had not parked in a designated area, I was in the wrong.

She pointed out that the hospital did not have to provide parking and if it did, it could charge what it liked and parking had to be within the designated areas. I asked what I should have done, as I could not find an attendant to ask where I should park and I could not walk any distance. I was told that I should have taken a taxi.

When I pointed out that I lived in Burford, she suggested that I park closer and get a taxi from there!

It seemed that there was no way I could appeal against this parking fine. Is this justice?

I am now due to pay £154 (a lot of money for a pensioner) instead of £60, with not a glimmer of sympathy.

No wonder that the John Radcliffe made £1.7m last year on the backs of patients and visitors.

What price justice?

JIM PERTWEE Hawthorne Drive Bradwell Village Burford