Man admits damaging bailiff’s van

FURIOUS that a council bailiff was about to take away his 4X4 vehicle, Roy Killingworth used the Mitsubishi Shogun to attack the bailiff s Ford Transit van. He shunted the van off his premises by reversing into it several times — while bailiff Albert Rozs

FURIOUS that a council bailiff was about to take away his 4X4 vehicle, Roy Killingworth used the Mitsubishi Shogun to attack the bailiff's Ford Transit van.

He shunted the van off his premises by reversing into it several times - while bailiff Albert Rozs sat inside the vehicle with his seatbelt on - and caused about £6,000 worth of damage.

"Mr Rozs feared for his life," prosecutor April Plant told Fenland magistrates on Wednesday. "So much damage was caused that the van was written off."

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

Mitigating, John Clarke said the bailiff had called at Killingworth's home 12 days earlier, demanding £380 in Council Tax arrears.

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.

Mr Clarke added that his client thought he had paid the money and that his only means of transport was being taken away. His wife was in tears and he was aggravated by the bailiff's high-handedness."

Sentencing was adjourned until September 6 for a report to be prepared.