Royal Marine amputee Ben McBean has been stripped of his blue badge
Share and Follow

ROYAL Marine amputee Ben McBean was yesterday stripped of his blue badge — and fumed: “I don’t understand how much more disabled I need to be.”

The Afghanistan veteran was hailed by Prince Harry as a “real hero” after losing an arm and leg in 2008.

Royal Marine amputee Ben McBean has been stripped of his blue badge

Royal Marine amputee Ben McBean has been stripped of his blue badgeCredit: Paul Edwards – The Sun
Ben fumed: 'I don’t understand how much more disabled I need to be'

Ben fumed: ‘I don’t understand how much more disabled I need to be’Credit: Collect
Prince Harry hailed Ben as a 'real hero' after losing an arm and leg in 2008

Prince Harry hailed Ben as a ‘real hero’ after losing an arm and leg in 2008Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

But council officials have ruled he does not meet requirements for priority parking aid, despite only having two limbs, one of which is currently broken.

The ex-commando, 36, told The Sun: “If you’re a double amputee, you have a disability, no question about it.

“The badge had been really useful for me to use, especially when I needed to visit the hospital.”

Ben, who is nursing a broken ankle after a fall on Remembrance Sunday, went on: “I’m 37 next week.

“I’m not getting any younger.

“My limbs will start getting knackered.

“To have the option taken away from me to get the help I need, it’s wrong.

“I’m walking round with two limbs and one’s broken, so what happens if I fall and smack my head because I have to walk longer?”

Ben, of Plymouth, was given a blue badge when he returned home after being blown up by the Taliban — 16 years ago today.

It was revoked a year later after he ran the London Marathon on a prosthetic leg.

He finally had it reinstated in 2021 thanks to local MP Johnny Mercer.

Ben applied to renew it but the bid was rejected yesterday by Plymouth City Council.

It told him his disability living allowance payments are not in a high enough band to qualify.

Ben said he was also insulted by the suggestion he can pay £10 to reapply.

He went on: “I won’t be bothering.

“When you fill out the form, there isn’t a spot I could write my injuries in.

“If I could actually tell them I’m a double amputee, it’d be far easier.

“Instead, it’s a series of boxes to do with allowances, and I don’t tick the right boxes clearly, or didn’t meet the right criteria.

“So it is stupid.”

The council and the Office for Veterans Affairs were approached for comment.

Ben was given a blue badge when he returned home after being blown up by the Taliban — 16 years ago today

Ben was given a blue badge when he returned home after being blown up by the Taliban — 16 years ago todayCredit: Getty
Ben applied to renew his badge but the bid was rejected by Plymouth City Council

Ben applied to renew his badge but the bid was rejected by Plymouth City CouncilCredit: Getty
Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Shocking moment two brazen cops are caught romping in field propped against their police car in broad daylight clinch

A GOB-SMACKING video shows two cops romping next to a police car…

British lawmakers agree to make abortion legal until birth

British lawmakers have backed the most significant change to abortion law in…

GOP senator criticizes Padilla being wrestled to floor

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis (R) on Wednesday criticized the forceful removal…

Chilling vid shows Israeli school bus blown to bits by Iranian missile in madcap Ayatollah’s death-throw retaliation

THIS is the chilling aftermath of a huge ballistic rocket blast by…

CNN Headquarters Faces Hardship as Financially Struggling Network Gets Ready for Acquisition and Anderson Cooper Brings Onboard a Fresh Representative

A dark cloud hangs over CNN headquarters as staffers brace for layoffs…

Trump ‘has APPROVED Iran attack plans and is waiting to give orders’ but Starmer warned UK involvement could be ILLEGAL

DONALD Trump has reportedly approved US airstrikes on Iran and is now…

Who are Richard & Mayumi Heene? ‘Balloon boy’ parents who convinced world their son Falcon was trapped in an inflatable

BACK in 2009, Richard and Mayumi Heene were the masterminds behind a…

Shark attack reported at popular US beach as victim rushed to hospital just weeks after 1,600lb beast spotted in state

A BEACHGOER has been rushed to the hospital after being bitten by…