THURROCK COUNCIL have paid out £2,000 after admitting to unlawfully crushing a van that was parked on private property.

Matthew Mullineux, 33, of Queensmere, Thundersley, has accepted an out of court settlement from the council after over 18 months of legal wrangling following the council's decision to have his J-registered Vauxhall Nova van crushed.

The council's blunder occurred in January last year when, after being informed that Mr Mullineux's van was an 'abandoned vehicle' parked at his then home in Shorwell Court, Purfleet, it gave the authority to Albert Road Recovery to tow the vehicle away.

Mr Mullineux explains: "The van was in a car park in a block of flats which was managed by me. The council and the police had no power to do anything. It was insured and had a valid MOT certificate and although it didn't have road tax, it wasn't being used.

"A traffic warden went up there - when they had no right to - and left a note on my van saying that if the vehicle was not removed within seven days it would be towed away.

"I got in touch with the Traffic Wardens Office at Essex Police and explained to them that they had made a mistake and they assured me that it would all be sorted out.

"But then I came home from work a week later to find my van had been towed away and crushed. It was unbelievable."

Angered, Mr Mullineux soon discovered that it was Thurrock Council who made the decision to take the van away and was quick to sought an explanation.

"I phoned the council, but I was just passed through department after department, until finally I spoke to Franco LaTorre, head of neighbourhood services, who said they would issue an investigation and advised me to speak to their solicitors," he said.

From there Mr Mullineux decided to take legal action against the council and filed papers with Basildon County Court.

Thurrock Council initially offered Mr Mullineux £500 to cover the van's value, but after campaigning from Mr Mullineux's solicitors they improved the offer to £2,000.