Dartford man Dan Horwood is pleading with parking wardens to show some humanity after they slapped £2,000 of fines on his car in six months.

Mr Horwood, 25, says wardens from private firm Parking Control Management are patrolling 24 hours a day in order to victimise residents at Phoenix Quarter in Dartford - where there are not enough spaces for people with valid permits.

He says he has racked up 20 fines - each £100 - for not parking in allocated bays since he moved to the flat with his boyfriend in July last year, but doesn't intend to pay any of them because he owns a permit and has parked considerately in the car park.

"When we moved in we were told we had one visitor permit to park around the flats and adjacent streets," said salesman Mr Horwood. "It doesn’t say you’ve got to park in a bay. If it was Dartford council or another authority they issue permits but you don’t have to park in a bay.

"I’ve got my visitor permit, it shouldn’t matter."

"If it’s parked slightly over the bay they give it a ticket," he added. "It’s not about parking restrictions - it’s purely for profit."

And he pleaded with parking inspectors: "You’re not a robot, you’re human. Have a bit of compassion."

Mr Horwood said friends had also been hit by fines, and now didn't want to visit unless he picked them up.

At times he even feels like a prisoner in his own home, as he fears leaving the flat will just lead to another parking fine.

"It’s stressful because it’s costing me time and money," he added. "I had put a lot of effort into paying off debts and saving money for the flat."

KentOnline's sister paper the Dartford Messenger has requested a comment from Parking Control Management, a private firm working on behalf of site owners Hyde Housing.