A WORLD renowned inventor who drove 200 miles to Birmingham for a business meeting had his car clamped when he stopped to ask for directions.
Maurice Ward, who created Starlite – a material which can withstand extreme heat – pulled over in what he thought was a disused car park in Sparkhill, when he got lost on the way to a meeting at nearby firm Indestructible Paint.
But after he asked a pedestrian for directions and returned to his car two minutes later he was confronted by a car clamper demanding £150 cash.
Mr Ward, who is in his seventies, said: “A man was stood next to my car demanding £150 cash. I explained what I had been doing but he said I had to pay or he would call for the tow truck to come and take my car away.
“He said if I didn’t hand over £150 then it would cost me about £400 to get it back from the compound.”
Mr Ward, whose Starlite invention featured on Tomorrow’s World, contacted the police.
But he said he was told there was nothing they could do and that it was a matter for the small claims court.
He added: “Fortunately I had £150 cash, but it cleaned me out.
“I have travelled extensively throughout my life to many places and this has never happened to me before.
“The whole thing needs investigating, It was like blackmail, totally unethical.”
Brian Norton, managing director of Indestructible Paint, an independent specialist coating company, said: “I am absolutely appalled that this has happened to one of our clients.
“He is a gentleman in his seventies and he has never been clamped before. He has come a long way to our city to do business and he only stopped for directions. It does not give a good image of Birmingham.”
Mr Ward’s car was clamped by Midway Parks.
Last week the Birmingham Mail told how the controversial firm charged a diabetic 75-year-old £350 to reclaim his car after he parked on their land as an emergency while he used a toilet for medical reasons.
A spokeswoman for Midway Parks, which is based in Midland Street, Bordesley Green, said: “The amount we charge is the same as any other company in Birmingham. We pass on the costs to customers to tow and store the cars.”
