Council destruction of women's cars 'little short of astonishing'

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One of the victims received her car as a Christmas present from her parents but within two months it had been removed and destroyed without warning by Greenwich council.

Ombudsman Jerry White said it was "utterly incomprehensible" that officials decided the car was abandoned, even though it was parked outside the home of the registered keeper, and didn't try to contact her. He ordered the council to pay £850 to the owner to cover her loss and £250 for her "time and trouble".

Mr White said that by crushing the second woman's £900 car without notifying her, officials caused her "unnecessary distress and concern".

Greenwich said it removed the car because it had been badly vandalised and so was a risk to the public.

Mr White said the council had acted within the law but it failed to produce photographic evidence that the car had been damaged and incorrectly stated it had been "burnt out".

He ordered Greenwich to pay the owner £250 for her time and trouble in complaining and her "sense of outrage".

Today, the council apologised and promised to review its procedures.