A dad was slapped with a hefty fine for parking in a parent and child bay at Sainsbury’s – despite being with his son on the shopping trip.

After the Express got in touch Sainsbury’s cancelled the fine – but landscape gardener Paul Smith says it has put him off shopping there again.

Mr Smith, who says he forks out about £150 every week at the Cumberland Street store, was with son Max, five, and 17-week-old bulldog Bowser.

After spending more than an hour and £130 on food and toys, Mr Smith returned to his van – which had a child booster seat in the passenger seat – and drove off.

But on Sunday he got a shock.

“I went out again in the van and noticed something tucked under his windscreen wiper.

“I couldn't believe it when I saw it was a £60 parking fine for being in a parent and child bay – when I was with my child.” The ticket from private firm Town and City Parking Ltd, employed by Sainsbury’s was marked code K – for breaching the parent and child bay regulations.

Mr Smith, 36, married to Carolyn, 39, a teacher at Stockport Grammar and of Orme Crescent, Tytherington, went straight back to the store to speak with the manager.

“But they kept me waiting for 20 minutes and then when a staff member finally spoke to me he was completely unhelpful and dismissive.

“I asked why they couldn’t have announced on the Tannoy they were considering giving me a ticket or just checked the CCTV to see me with Max.

“When I spoke to the manager later on the phone he said there was nothing Sainsbury’s could do and I would have to appeal it. Not even an apology. Why the hell should I go to all the effort of writing a letter when it’s not my fault? If they had apologised I would have let this go but it’s funny how it was so easy to cancel it after the Express contacted them.”

Mr Smith, who runs Max Landscaping Ltd, added: “I never usually complain about things, but I will not be shopping there again.”

A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman said: “Our parent and child and disabled parking bays are monitored to ensure that they’re used correctly, and the profit from fines is donated to charity. 

“As Mr Smith has assured us he was shopping with his child we’d like to apologise for any inconvenience that has been caused and reassure him that we’ve cancelled the parking ticket.”

Bernie Dickson, managing director of Town and Parking Ltd, said the attendant claimed he had seen Mr Smith, a dog, but no child.

He said: “Special needs bays, as we call them, are a very emotive issue.

“We get a lot of complaints about these bays. It is important that our attendants see the vehicles and witness what happens. In this case the attendant said he saw Mr Smith, a dog but no child. In this instance it seems there was a mix-up and if he was mistaken then we apologise.”