Skip to content

'It was a senseless way for my nan to die after parking ticket row'

Mat TrewernBBC North West
Whitehurst Family Jackie Whitehurst is looking at the camera and smiling. She has blonde, shoulder-length hair and is wearing a blue sweatshirt. She is in a park on a sunny day. Whitehurst Family
Jackie Whitehurst's family believe she would still be alive were it not for the parking dispute

The family of an 82-year-old grandmother who died after falling in the street outside a court building where she had been fighting a wrongly issued parking ticket have called for elderly motorists to be given more time to respond to fines.

Jackie Whitehurst, from Stockport in Greater Manchester, was seriously injured moments after winning a long-running legal case against parking firm Parkingeye Ltd.

Her family said she should "never have been in court" and suffered "excruciating pain" during eight weeks in hospital before her death.

Parkingeye said it was "very sorry" to hear about her death but insisted it had "followed the legal and appeals process at every stage" of the case.

Whitehurst Family Jackie is lying in a hospital bed, wearing a pink gown. She is wearing a pair of sunglasses and looks unwell.Whitehurst Family
Jackie Whitehurst spent eight weeks in hospital after her fall

Jackie was issued with a parking charge notice (PCN) in January 2025 after a car was parked in a pub car park in Saffron Walden, Essex.

Her family said she had informed Parkingeye she no longer owned the vehicle at the time.

Parkingeye said she had "failed to provide any evidence to prove that she was not the registered owner when she appealed" and "failed to respond" to various letters and emails.

The dispute continued for a year before a judge overturned a County Court Judgement that had been taken out against the grandmother.

The judge, sitting at Stockport County Court, also highlighted her vulnerability.

Shortly after leaving court, Jackie fell as she tried to get into her daughter's car.

Her son-in-law Simon Bessell said Jackie was in "gradual decline" during her time at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport.

"I can't imagine how much pain she was in," he said.

"She was so depressed. She knew she didn't have long."

Jackie died in March 2026 at her home, surrounded by her family.

"She just wanted to be out of the hospital and be home and see everybody for the last time," said Simon.

"Everybody got to say goodbye to her."

Whitehurst Family Jackie Whitehurst is on the dancefloor at a party. She is smiling at the camera and is wearing a blue dress. Whitehurst Family
Jackie Whitehurst's family want lessons to be learned from her death

Jackie's family are now calling for parking companies to allow drivers over the age of 70 to have "up to six months" to respond to parking charges.

"It means if they haven't got internet access or email, if they've never used a computer, they can go and get help from their family or from Citizens Advice", said Simon.

"Allow them some grace so they can get all the information, then put it forward.

"Parking firms are still going to make lots of money out of fines, but it just stops incidents like what's happened to our family and ultimately the death of Jackie."

Simon Bessell is wearing round black glasses and a brown sweatshirt. He has a grey beard.
Simon Bessell says parking firms should show more care towards elderly drivers

'Hard to accept'

Jackie's grandson James Whitehurst said her death felt "really pointless".

"It's just senseless, for the sake of a parking fine that wasn't even hers," he said.

"Not in our wildest dreams did we think that she wouldn't be here and that last Christmas would be the final one we'd all spend together.

"It's the fact that we lost her in the way that we did - it's just hard to accept."

James Whitehurst has a beard and is wearing a black t-shirt.
James Whitehurst said his family were unable to forgive Parkingeye

In a statement, Parkingeye said it extended its "sincere condolences" to Jackie's family.

The company said it had provided "multiple opportunities" for her to engage and submit supporting information.

It said the decision was also "independently reviewed and upheld by POPLA, the independent appeals service".

The company added: "We do not wish for any motorist to end up in court. However, where there is a continued lack of correct engagement with the process, cases will ultimately be escalated in line with the legal framework.

"While we recognise the importance of supporting vulnerable individuals, any changes to processes or timelines must be considered carefully at an industry level to ensure they remain fair, proportionate and workable for all motorists."

Isaac Occhipinti, of the British Parking Association, said the private parking sector operated under a clear code of practice which included "provisions to support motorists with mitigating circumstances, such as illness or disability".

He said the sector was working with the government on a new code of practice which would "further strengthen protections for motorists, including those in vulnerable circumstances, helping to ensure the system is fair, proportionate and consistently applied".

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.