Man tries to pay £1,300 debt in pennies

A wheel clamper who tried to pay a £1,300 fine using pennies in a shopping trolley has had his payment refused.

Gary Southall, 48, of Digbeth, had the trolley containing 461kg (0.508 tons) of pennies delivered to trading standards at Birmingham City Council.

He was ordered to pay the court fine after clamping vehicles without providing his business contact details on receipts to motorists. The council said rules meant pennies could only settle debts up to 20p.



Chris Neville, the city's head of trading standards, said: "I can see a humorous side to it in a sense, but it also illustrates to me the contempt he has got for authority.

"He's cocking a snook at authority - if he had any respect he would just pay in the conventional way."

Mr Southall, who has traded under the names National Parking Control and Nationwide Parking Control, was ordered to pay the council £1,300 after action was taken under the Enterprise Act.