Anti-terror squad target Tim Pppppppppprice's van and female mannequin

Suspicious anti-terror police broke into the van of a Leicester man after they found it parked in London bearing political slogans and containing a life-sized female mannequin. Self-confessed eccentric Tim Pppppppppprice, who made headlines earlier this year when he elongated his name by deed poll to avoid cold-calling telephone salesmen, had left his Ford Transit in the capital. He returned to find glass from a smashed window in the driver's footwell and notes saying it had been broken into by anti-terrorism officers responding to reports of a suspicious vehicle.



Mr Pppppppppprice, of New Parks Boulevard, Leicester, said: "The vehicle was parked legally outside a college just off the main road into central London. I parked it there to get the Tube in. I returned to the vehicle at 8pm and was shocked to find the driver's side window smashed. Bertha, my mannequin, who travels everywhere with me in the passenger seat, had both hands taken off and left on the floor. The vehicle was left unlocked. I was surprised but relieved to find my satnav and stereo were still in the vehicle.

"I couldn't understand why a thief or vandal had not bothered to take them. I then discovered the note from the Metropolitan Police informing me my vehicle had been broken into and searched by anti-terrorism police. The police said there were wires poking out from under a towel, but it was a cigarette lighter AC/DC converter and I didn't want anyone nicking it. I had no way of cleaning up the glass debris on the floor. I had to drive the vehicle away wearing my sandals. I am not some terrorist, just a bloke who likes to be different to everyone else.



"I fully appreciate the vehicle may have aroused suspicion and obviously would rather my van get broken into than a real terrorist atrocity taking place. I am not making a complaint about the police, but it would have been nice if they had cleaned up the damage after them. I am, after all, innocent and now face a repair bill I can barely afford." A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Police received a call at 12.20pm on Tuesday June 26, to go to Brentmead Place, NW11, following reports of a suspicious vehicle. Officers attended and forced entry to the van. There were no arrests and no complaint has been received."