Owner of firm which clamped in Bromsgrove jailed

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THE OWNER and some of the employees of a clamping firm which operated across Bromsgrove and Redditch have been jailed for six-and-a-half-years between them after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud.

The charges relate to incidents carried out by Midland Parking Contracts (MPC) between January 2006 and September 2009.

They were investigated by West Mercia Police, Worcestershire Regulatory Services' trading standards and the Security Industry Authority after 200 complaints from motorists.

Most were from people whose vehicles had been clamped and, were often, towed away in Bromsgrove and Redditch, although MPC operated across the Midlands.

Investigations found 1,500 incidents of vehicles being clamped or removed across the Midlands, pocketing the company hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Andrew Minshull, 38, of Hatfield Close, Redditch, was the owner of MPC. He was sentenced to 32 months in prison.

His former partner Debbie Worton, 43, of Longdon Close, Redditch, worked for the company in an administration role.

She was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Clamper Simon Barry, 37, of Lilac Close, Evesham, was jailed for 21 months, while fellow clampers Christopher Cartwright, 31, of Maple Close, Kidderminster and Faisal Qadeer, 35, of Mount Pleasant, Redditch were both sentenced to 15 months each behind bars.

Lloyd Isherwood, 39, of Groveley Lane, Longbridge, admitted the offence, but his sentencing has been adjourned to a later date as pre-sentence reports were not ready.

Worcester Crown Court heard on Tuesday (February 21) how people complained about the firm's tactics were sometimes offered refunds, but in most cases did not get their money back.

Welcoming the sentence, Det Sgt Mark Roberts of West Mercia Police said: "Wheel clamping is legitimate but there are rules which need to be followed.

"Of course all drivers are going to be unhappy about having their vehicles clamped or towed, and the police do receive regular calls from angry and distressed motorists about it.

"However, the barrage of complaints we were receiving about MPC prompted us to launch an investigation, and it showed the company and its employees were effectively demanding money with menaces."

He added warning signs were often placed high or made difficult to see, especially in the dark.

And he said many motorists said they felt intimidated and threatened by the clampers due to their physical appearance and aggressive manner.

His thoughts were echoed by NHS worker Alison Overton, whose van, which was carrying drugs, patients' notes and blood specimens, was clamped on waste ground behind Bromsgrove's Slug and Lettuce pub.

She was in uniform and had only parked there for a minute to make a delivery. When she returned, the clampers had not started to clamp it, but demanded she pay up. She telephoned her manager who tried to reason with them, but she ended up paying £150.

Miss Overton said: "I felt intimidated and was also aware of the inconvenience it would cause to patients if there were any delays.

"These people were just making money out of causing misery.

"I am so grateful for the effort put in by the police to bring this case to court, and I hope it stops other firms from doing the same."

Another victim, Dorothy Webb, from Wolverhampton, was attending a leaving party at a restaurant in Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove, when her car was one of a several clamped.

She said: "I was in a party of women and we felt intimidated.

"It was a cold, snowy night, and I paid the £297 demanded because I just wanted to get home."

Trading Standards Senior Practitioner Peter Holmes said: "It was obvious these clampers only had one motive and that was to make as much money as possible from victims.

"The volume of complaints we received about MCP was unprecedented and that led us to believe serious criminal offences were being committed.

"I am pleased the work we undertook and the evidence we collected assisted the police in their investigation and brought the offenders before the courts.

"The victims will now see some justice."