John gets personal apology over fines outrage

A SMILING John Igoe after receiving an apology

A garage boss has received an apology and had the threat of a fine withdrawn following the attempted theft of one of his vans

John Igoe’s dilemma was highlighted in the Chronicle after two thieves dumped the Peugeot Partner van in the road outside his business at Royton.

CCTV footage showed them hooking the locked van to a tow truck and dragging it off the Voy Prestige Motors site in High Barn Street. A police car arrived with two PCSOs, but they had no power to detain the would-be thieves and had to let them go. Police ordered the van collected and held in a compound.

John (55) then had to pay £150 to have his van released - and was hit by a demand from the DVLA for £443 to avoid “further court action” for “keeping or using the vehicle on a public road” after he drove it back to Royton, even though it displayed trade plates.

His anger at the official response to him as victim led to him writing a strong letter to the DVLA and his local MP, Jim McMahon. He vowed not to pay a penny of any penalty.

But yesterday his mood changed: “I have received a personal apology from the police, which I fully accept - and the DVLA has said there will no further action,” he reported.

“I’m delighted things have been resolved - and I thank the Chronicle for highlighting the issues.”