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A diabetic grandad was fined £100 after he used the same McDonald's Drive Thru twice in the same day.

Ian Scates, 62, has slammed the fast food giants for the 'totally ridiculous cock-up' and vowed never to return being fined by a parking company it uses.

The loyal customer, who has diabetes, used the Drive Thru around 11am to keep his blood sugar levels up while on his way to look after his granddaughter and used the service again at 9pm to buy a coffee while returning home.

But the retired gardener was baffled when he got a £100 parking fine through the post - for apparently being parked at the store for nine hours and 50 minutes.

It appears an error with the cameras at the McDonald's in Petersfield, Hampshire, meant they did not register Mr Scates' 2008 dark grey Toyota Yaris leaving the store on his first visit.

(Image: Morten Watkins/Solent News)

Mr Scates, from nearby Waterlooville, bought a wrap of the day and a Coca Cola around 11am for around £3 while on his way to Dunstable, Bedfordshire, to look after his granddaughter Iliyah, three.

Then, at 9pm on the return leg, he bought a £1.79 toffee latte. He is a regular user of McDonald's, sometimes visiting up to twice a week, and frequently buys the chain's coffee.

Mr Scates, who has messages and photographs proving he was elsewhere, said: "It's totally ridiculous, their coffee is cheap but this whole cock-up isn't.

"All of this because I went there two times in one day.

"They say that I was parked there for more than nine hours - I'm not being funny but who is going to sit in a McDonald's car park for nine hours?

(Image: Morten Watkins/Solent News)

"I only stopped there in the morning around 11am because as a diabetic I have to keep my blood sugar levels up and I came back about 9pm.

"I was looking after an 18 month old baby, not sitting in a McDonald's car park.

"It was a cock-up with the cameras, my ticket says I was there for nine hours and 30 minutes."

He added: "It's totally appalling they way it's been handled. I've been using McDonald's since the 1980s as it's one of the places you won't get food poisoning, but I won't be going back."

Signs outside the store state customers can't return to park their vehicles 'within four hours'.

(Image: Morten Watkins/Solent News)

Mr Scates, who lives with 64-year-old wife Veronica, a nurse, claimed when he contacted McDonald's in Petersfield a manager told him 'not my problem'.

He also said McDonald's told him they ban customers returning to 'stop taxi drivers parking there'.

McDonald's has denied responsibility and said the car park is operated by ParkingEye.

A McDonald's spokeswoman said: "We are aware of this incident and have encouraged the customer in question to contact the car park operator directly with any concerns they may have.

"As our car parks are operated and managed by independent providers, they are always best placed to assist."

Mr Scates has tried to appeal the fine with ParkingEye but said he cannot reach anyone at the company.

A ParkingEye spokesman said: "ParkingEye is a member of the British Parking Association (BPA) and operate a fully audited appeals process.

"Motorists with mitigating circumstances are encouraged to appeal. ParkingEye has yet to receive a response to our correspondence."