'Council put my car in crusher'

7:00am Monday 14th May 2007

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A tax disc is all that was left after Oxford City Council mistook a man's vandalised car as an abandoned vehicle and took it away to be scrapped.

Martin Young, of Headington Hill, contacted police immediately after discovering his car was missing last Thursday and reported it stolen.

Mr Young then decided to contact the council to see whether it had been found dumped somewhere - and was stunned to be told that the City Works department had towed it away.

He said: "I spoke to someone in the department, who told me that the car had been taken to a private contractor who deals with abandoned vehicles.

"I was given the number for LC Hughes, in Bicester, and they told me that the car was there and all the fluids had been removed.

"Then, later on, they called me back and said, 'sorry, it's been scrapped'."

Mr Young, who is now left without any form of transport, is demanding compensation from the council for the loss of his vehicle.

He said: "I thought that I had left it somewhere it would be safe.

"I was just waiting until I had the time and money to fix it up.

"I know that the council has the right to take away abandoned vehicles, but they can't just go on to private land and remove them.

"I could claim on my insurance, but I don't see why I should.

"I plan on sticking to my guns on this one and I won't be happy until my car is replaced."

Phil Dunsdon, interim business manager at City Works, said: "We can confirm that the vehicle has been removed and it has subsequently been destroyed, due to the condition that the officer found it in.

"The owner can contact the council and discuss this further if he wishes."

Mr Young was featured in the Oxford Mail last month after the car, a blue Ford Escort estate, was vandalised and a 'To Let' sign was smashed through the windscreen.