Police pick up tab for recovery of car

A motorist left with a bill for more than £500 for reclaiming his car from a West Midlands Police compound has had the money paid – by the force itself.

Electrical engineer David Drew's Peugeot was taken away for examination after it was found abandoned on wasteground in the Wednesfield area. Hours earlier thieves had used it in a ramraid at his workplace in Fordhouses, getting away with £9,000 of equipment.

Mr Drew was fuming when he found out he would have to pay a large sum for the return of the vehicle from MMS Recovery in the city's Dunstall Hill, especially as the letter demanding payment was posted to the wrong person at the wrong address.

The letter eventually arrived on Monday – two days after the car was due to have been crushed.

Now he has been told that West Midlands Police is picking up the tab after his plight was highlighted in the Express & Star yesterday.

Today the relieved father-of-five, who was prepared to go to prison rather than pay up, said: "It was quite a distressing time. But it's good to know that people do care and will help."

West Midlands Police said it had a change of heart after liaising with the recovery company.

Force spokesman Steve Garey said: "We have confirmed there was a delay for the owner in collecting his car due to the notification letter being sent to the wrong address.

"Clearly, this was not the owner's fault and we have come to an agreement with the recovery company so that he will not have to meet any additional charges incurred.

"We are apologising to the owner for the inconvenience involved and have contacted him to advise that his vehicle is ready for collection."

Yesterday Mr Drew picked up the Peugeot and sent it straight for scrap.

"A window had been smashed, the steering lock forced, wires pulled out for hot-wiring," he said. "It wasn't worth repairing. It cost me the price of someone towing it away but it could have been a lot worse."