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Driver wins £20,000 for stress over parking tickets and sends bailiffs to collect his money

A motorist sued a council for £20,000 over the stress of receiving four parking tickets.

Zun Noon, who refused to pay the four £50 fines, claimed he suffered emotional distress after bailiffs were sent round to reclaim the money.
After a court found in his favour, Mr Noon gave the council a taste of its own medicine and sent his own bailiffs to its offices to collect his damages.

Mr Noon's battle against Newham Council in East London started in October 2007 when he was apparently captured by a council CCTV camera committing the parking offences.

Two more fines arrived the following month, as well as a fourth penalty which was a duplicate of a previous one and was later dropped.

Mr Noon, from Tower Hamlets, was so incensed he launched a counterclaim for emotional distress at Bow County court.

After Newham Council failed to attend the hearing the judge awarded him £20,000 - £5,000 for each ticket.

Bailiffs went to Newham's 'Parking Shop' in East Ham last November to present a 'notice of seizure' and began taking computers and putting them in a van. The council took 30 minutes before paying up.

Si-Ling Pang, a spokeswoman for Newham Council said: 'They were unplugging computers and taking them away. If they'd unplugged the server it would have cost us thousands of pounds worth of damage so we had to pay to stop it.'

The cost to taxpayers has since risen to £27,566.83 including a service charge and costs resulting from the time taken to settle the case.

The council, which says it never received a summons, has since taken the case back to Bow County Court, which ruled in its favour and ordered Mr Noon to repay the money. .


Readers Comment

I salute this man in his stand against Uncontrolled Profit Zones and everyone else with the guts to stand up to target-driven ticketing which nine times out of ten has nothing to do with preserving the freeflow of traffic or preventing parking abuse, but raising revenue for whatever greedy council (out of which they should cream more than enough profit to deal with losing any court cases without affecting tax payers)

Plus the council got their money back on appeal from him so what right would they have to still increase council tax in view of this?


highwayrobberyvictim,Oxford



Readers Comment

I would like to see those who say "this man was out of order" say they are not going to prosecute anyone for compensation if they get involved in an R.T.A.However, if they do sue for compensation,and win the case but get no money, would they send in bailiffs to get the money? ............i think yes!! I had someone smash my car in Boston several years ago I took the case on myself.She lost.She had 30 days to pay me £285. After 35 days, no money so I took out a warrant of execution and gave it to the bailiffs.my money plus the cost of the warrant of execution came 2 days later.The money was owed so I ensured it was paid.

bigbusman,Stapleford



Readers Comment

I do hope Mr Noon will be happy with his next council tax increase. (They’ll have to get their money back somehow).

Guy,Bedford



Readers Comment

The man was not out of ordr.If he was suffering from stress caused by the council then he has a right to claim compensation, just like you would should you have an accident at work or be involved in an R.T.A. The fact that the council said they never received the summons to appear in court, or the judgement( i was aware of this case a few months ago), are total lies.They’re quick enough in taking the money, but not as quick in giving it out.I have taken on Nottingham City Council and Derby City Council and won both times retrieving £140.00 and £60.00 respectfully for 2 bus drivers at work.

bigbusman,stapleford



Readers Comment

I think this man was out of order in the first place, and now it has cost the tax payer over 27k. I wonder how they will get that money back, More Parking Tickets??

Julie,Newport




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