- EXCLUSIVE: James Brogan, 37, from Staffs, had his campervan seized by DVLA
- Mr Brogan faces a hefty invoice to launch van, which is to be auctioned in January
- The father claims private objects, together with mom’s ashes, are trapped inside
A father claims he has been made homeless after his campervan was seized whereas he was sleeping inside.
James Brogan, 37, from Leek in Staffordshire, was quick asleep whereas stationed in a carpark when DVLA officers clamped his automobile.
The father-of-one stated he was in his underwear as bailiffs confiscated the VW camper, which had no insurance coverage, tax, or MOT.
Mr Brogan refused to go away his automobile and clashed with the DVLA enforcement staff earlier than he was later arrested by cops.
The skilled comic, who was later launched with out cost, claims the seizing of his van has been one among ‘the worst’ occasions in his life.
He advised MailOnline: ‘Some random particular person has gone via all my belongings, my mum’s ashes are nonetheless within the van, and now it is going up for public sale.’
James Brogan, 37, from Leek in Staffordshire, had been quick asleep whereas stationed in a carpark when the DVLA’s enforcement associate NSL swooped in and clamped the automobile
James captured the second Staffordshire Police turned as much as arrest him for refusing to vacate his van, earlier than the automobile was towed by the DVLA and brought to a compound for public sale
The preliminary quantity that Mr Brogan, who’s on Universal Credit, was required to pay to get his automobile again was £270, however the invoice has since elevated to £500, with the monies owed rising day by day.
However, the paperwork wanted to launch the van – together with his driving licence – stay inside, which is ready to be auctioned inside a month.
Now, the daddy is sofa-surfing whereas battling to have his van launched earlier than time runs out.
Mr Brogan has reportedly tried to contact the DVLA instantly, however has been unable to proceed with verifying his id as he ‘cannot tax it over the telephone’ and all of his belongings, together with identification, are ‘within the van.’
He stated: ‘I really feel the bottom of the low. Nothing like this has occurred earlier than.
‘It was 11.00AM the morning it occurred – I do comedy gigs within the night so I used to be nonetheless asleep when the DVLA clamped my van.’
Mr Brogan, who’s father to an seven-year-old son with autism, added: ‘My little boy is completely devastated. He loves the van because it’s shiny inexperienced. We go fishing and tenting with it in the course of the holidays.
‘I have never been capable of see my son for Christmas this 12 months. Usually, I park my van outdoors my ex-wife’s home each Christmas so I may be close to him on the massive day.’
The paperwork wanted to launch the van – reminiscent of James’ driving license and different documentation – stay contained in the automobile, which is ready to be auctioned inside a month
The VW van was towed away to a Newcastle-under-Lyme compound after it was discovered to have no insurance coverage, tax, or MOT
James, who’s father to a seven-year-old son with autism, added: ‘My little boy is completely devastated. We go fishing and tenting with it in the course of the holidays’
Mr Brogan defined that he bought the van as soon as his divorce to the mom of his son had been finalised, utilizing a number of the inheritance cash he had acquired following his mom’s demise.
Having beforehand labored as an electrician earlier than falling right into a bout of deep melancholy, he stated: ‘I do not dwell in a van out of my very own consolation or profit – I’d like to dwell in a home, however I am unable to afford one.
‘I’ve needed to make plenty of sacrifices to dwell in a van. I get my meals from the meals financial institution and I survive on £300 a month as I set up myself as a comic.’
However, because of numerous MPs and a member of the native Parliament, Mr Brogan has managed to acquire a 30-day grace interval to delay the public sale, however continues to be unsure on how he’ll retrieve his objects and paperwork.
When requested about instantly approaching the DVLA for assist, he stated: ‘They do not have an overview.
‘There’s an image of me on my licence – certainly it could possibly be despatched by DVLA to the compound and my private objects stuff may be launched?’
The comic, whose different objects contained in the van embody drills, a laptop computer, digicam and clothes, added: ‘I have never paid for the issues [tax and insurance], okay, truthful sufficient, simply clamp it, take it away – however do not cease me from getting my private possessions.’
Mr Brogan , who aspires to arrange a comedy membership in Leek, stated of the probability of buying one other van: ‘I’d positively get one other van sooner or later, as soon as I’ve some money in my pocket, however I simply do not have it proper now.’
A Staffordshire Police spokesman stated: ‘We have been known as to Vicarage Road following reviews of public order offences. The DVLA noticed a automobile which was untaxed, uninsured and with no legitimate MOT certificates.
‘The proprietor of the automobile made threats to them. As a consequence, we despatched officers to the scene.
‘A 37-year-old man, of no mounted deal with, was arrested on suspicion of public order offences. He was later given an grownup restorative disposal.’
A a spokesman for the NSL which carries out wheelclamping companies for the DVLA, stated: ‘As a part of day-to-day enforcement exercise, NSL takes enforcement motion in opposition to untaxed autos seen on the highway in several areas of the nation.
‘I can affirm that the enforcement motion taken on this space was a part of this day-to-day exercise. NSL is unable to touch upon particular person enforcement circumstances.’