Bloke ‘stuck in Tesco car park for four days’ in bizarre stand-off with police
An eccentric man has become embroiled in a bizarre row with police as he claims he has been trapped in a Tesco car park for days.
Maurice Kirk claims he has been “trapped” there because he only holds a French driving licence.
Maurice, 77, whose incident-packed life has seen him involved in two plane crashes and is the subject of a recent restraining order from his local MP, has spent the last three “days and nights” outside the supermarket.
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The former vet claims that he is now “stuck” in the car park and would be breaking the law if he attempted to drive away from the site.
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Maurice’s van and attached horse box are parked up a few yards from the main entrance of the store in Taunton, Somerset, and he says he is being prevented from returning to his home in France.
He said: “I’m camping out of the van.
“I’m here during the day and go to sleep in it at night.”
Maurice claims a number of police officers pulled him over and told him it was illegal for him to drive in this country as he does not have a valid UK driving licence.
“I’ve got a perfectly valid French licence,” he explained. “I spend most of my time in France and pop over to England to sort some things out.
“I could be arrested if I get into my vehicle and drive it again. I need to get to France, but I’m stuck because of this.
“I’ve been here for two or three days and nights. I’m stuck.”
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Maurice is a former drinking partner of legendary Hollywood hellraiser Oliver Reed,
He is also no stranger to controversy and has been involved in a long-running legal dispute with South Wales Police.
Known affectionately as The Flying Vet, he has been involved in a number of adventures and narrow escapes.
Less than two years ago he walked away with only a few bumps and bruises after crashing his plane in a field at Lower Durston, near Taunton.
In 2016, he sparked a major search and rescue operation after going missing while attempting to fly a 1940s plane the length of Africa and was discovered between Sudan and Ethiopia.
And he was arrested in the USA in 2008 after trying to land his plane at George Bush’s ranch in Texas during an attempt to fly solo around the world.
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At the time, Maurice said he simply wanted to “drop in” to thank the American President after US coastguards rescued him from shark infested waters.
He was also in court accused of stalking Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow.
Following a trial, he was found not guilty of stalking her but the judge slapped a restraining order on him after the jury heard Ms Pow had received a letter from Mr Kirk containing a white powder.
Maurice later claimed this was ‘toothpaste’ and said he would appeal against the order. He subsequently announced plans to stand for an MP against her.
He said he had since unsuccessfully tried to persuade the Conservative party and the Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle to appoint another MP to represent him.
Maurice , who was in his younger years a pal of hard-drinking actor Oliver Reed, is no stranger to controversy after having been struck off by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2002.
Tesco has been contacted for comment.
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