A motorist was today celebrating after winning an 18-month battle with Thurrock Council after his van was illegally towed away and crushed.
The council has paid out £2,000 to Matthew Mullineux after admitting that it unlawfully destroyed his vehicle.
Matthew, 33, of Queensmere, Thundersley, has accepted an out of court settlement from the council following its 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 firm to tow the vehicle away.
Mr Mullineux explained: "The van was in a private car park in a block of flats which was managed by me. The council and the police had no power to do anything.
"A traffic warden went up there 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 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."
A spokesperson for Thurrock Council said: "Abandoned cars have been a plague in Thurrock for years. Over the past three years the council has removed around 300 abandoned cars a month from the streets of Thurrock.
"Unfortunately, on this occasion, there was a problem."
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