A double amputee war veteran dubbed a "real hero" by Prince Harry fears losing his blue parking badge again - for 'not being disabled enough.' Former Royal Marine Commando Ben McBean said he used his disabled badge this week but was reported by a warden to a council who questioned its legitimacy.
He now fears it will be taken away for a second time - after he battled for 13 years to have it reinstated. On a previous incident when he used it he had been labelled a "drain" on government resources, a "d******d" and told he "doesn't deserve the badge" for parking in a disabled bay as there were no other spots available.
Mr McBean lost an arm and a leg and was expected to die on the flight home from the battlefield in Afghanistan. But after making a remarkable recovery, his original disabled badge taken away from him when he ran the London Marathon a year later.
He battled for 13 years to get it back but questioned whether he would ever use it again when he faced a barrage of abuse when he got out of his car for a hospital appointment in 2021. And now he has taken to social media in fury - and expressed fears it will now be taken away again.
Mr McBean, 35, from Plymouth wrote: "So! I was injured in Afghanistan. Lost two limbs. Ran the marathon a year later. Had my disabled badge revoked. 13 years later got it back. Used it today. Someone complained and now the warden has reported me to the council for using a fake badge."
His posted on Twitter attracted huge public outcry and Ben followed up with his fears of what could happen next. He added: "Looks like I’ll lose it. AGAIN. Absolute joke. Always me.
"I know I’m entitled but they don’t think I am. Divvys."
Mr McBean had his badge reinstated only after a successful campaign on his behalf by his local MP Johnny Mercer. Speaking of his previous abuse, he said he ignored the volley of insults but said it made him think twice about using his badge again.
The motivational speaker was praised and be-friended by Prince Harry after he was badly injured in a landmine blast. He was just 20 at the time and was expected to die on the flight home which he shared with the prince.
Ben said he had previously used his badge at Derriford Hospital for a pre-op appointment for surgery to remove damaged nerve tissue in his arm, caused by bits of shrapnel from the bomb blast, and was shocked by the reaction. The father-of-two said he could understand why some may react as he doesn't "look disabled" but often struggles with issues caused by full time use of his prosthetic leg.
Speaking of the earlier incident, he said: "There were no spaces as usual so I was driving around in circles and then noticed the disabled car park and remembered I had the blue badge. I parked there and jumped out the car and a woman called me a "f*****g draining d***head, something like that.
"She was shaking her head and called me a drain on the taxpayer. She even shouted something about her dad being in the Navy and told me I didn't deserve the badge. I was shocked but did not react and just walked off.
"Unless I am in shorts and t-shirt I don't look like a double amputee as I am not wheelchair bound. I jumped out of the car so I know how it must have looked."
Ben said he was given a blue badge initially after losing his leg in Afghanistan in 2008 to get him through rehab. But this was taken away by Plymouth City Council less than a year later. He added: "I set myself a challenge to run the marathon a year after my injury and as soon as I ran to the finish line it was taken off me.
"I was fighting for 13-14 years to get one back but I did not fit the criteria. Apparently if you can run or walk more than 50 yards or something without aid then you don't need one.
"During the first lockdown I posted a bit about my struggles and then there was a bit of a campaign that just took off a bit for a couple of months. I was told to refill out the form I had done several times before, but told they would make sure I got the badge this time.
"I am conscious of the reaction people might have so I will only use it if I really need to. I will not use it just so I can get closer to the entrance of a supermarket. I will park in a non disabled bay and not right outside the front door.
"This is because most of the time I don't feel that bad. I am reasonably able-bodied, considering, but there are times when my back has gone and I am aching so much that I can not walk far. I have lived without one for 13 years and it has been a bit of a nightmare at times. And it is only those times that I would ever use it.
"When I can walk down the street looking normal I can understand people might get the wrong idea and have an issue. I was always reluctant to get one as I don't look like a typical person with a blue badge. I am always going to be wary where I park and will only need it if I really do."
Ben said wearing his prosthetic leg all day leads to uncomfortable sweating and swelling. He added: "Now with the kids and working, it can be on all day between 6am and 10pm and it just swells up and rubs skin off a bit. It is normal wear and tear for an amputee but there isn't the time to rest it now and that can cause problems."
Mr McBean's posts attracted huge public anger.
One said: "That’s disgusting. I’m so sorry this happened to you. Makes me so angry. I can only imagine how you must feel."
Another added: "The warden should be saying to you ‘Thank you for your service sir. You're good to park here’. That’s what I say to you as well."
A Plymouth City Council spokesman said: "We were deeply concerned to hear about this incident and a senior director has contacted Mr McBean so that we can investigate the matter further.
"Mr McBean's blue badge is not at risk."
