FURIOUS Roy Killingworth managed to stop a council bailiff seizing his 4x4 vehicle by using a Mitsubishi Shogun to shunt the debt collector s van off his premises. But he lost his battle to hang on to the vehicle this week — because magistrates decided to

FURIOUS Roy Killingworth managed to stop a council bailiff seizing his 4x4 vehicle by using a Mitsubishi Shogun to shunt the debt collector's van off his premises. But he lost his battle to hang on to the vehicle this week - because magistrates decided to confiscate it.

"We have no choice, because you used the vehicle as a weapon," Killingworth was told by magistrate Jemima Cookson at Wisbech courthouse on Wednesday. "You used the vehicle to push the van into a public road."

The court had been told that Killingworth is employed as an MoT tester, he needed the vehicle to get to work, and his wife used it to transport their children.

Killingworth had reversed into Albert Rozs's Ford Transit van six times, toppling it over into a ditch. Because it sustained about £6,000 worth of damage, it was written off.

"Mr Rozs feared for his life," said prosecutor Nicola Ebbs.

Thirty-three-year-old Killingworth, of Murrow Lane, Parson Drove, had admitted causing criminal damage to the van.

The bailiff had called at Killingworth's home 12 times before the incident on August 14, demanding £380 in council tax arrears, Mr Clarke had explained at court last month.

Killingworth had paid the money to the council, so was confused when the bailiff returned, and "lost his rag" when told his car was being taken away.

"My client refused to let him take the car. He could not understand how the car could be taken because he thought he had paid the money. But he did not know the bailiff was allowed to take another £200 in bailiff's fees," said Mr Clarke.

"My client felt he could not go to work if he lost the car, and things got out of hand."

The bailiff had boxed Killingworth's vehicle in, he said, so Killingworth shunted the van off his premises and on to the road.

Killingworth was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid community work and pay £50 compensation.