An Orpington motorist who put his Mercedes-Benz in for an MOT and service was horrified to learn a garage driver had taken it for a joyride.

John Bowles, 56, took his car to the official Mercedes-Benz Bromley garage in Wickham Road in Beckenham after he was invited to take part in a mystery shopper survey.

But when he picked up his E Class saloon he said something did not feel right and decided to take a look at footage filmed by his dashboard camera.

News Shopper:

When he watched the videos recorded on June 24 last year, he was stunned to discover a speeding driver recklessly driving his car to an MOT centre around five miles away on Sandhurst Road in Catford.

Graphic designer Mr Bowles, of Crofton Road, Orpington, told News Shopper: "When I saw the footage, I was shocked. I was furious with them.

"If I knew it was going to be driven like that, I would have totally refused to take part."

The driver can be heard swearing at other drivers and chatting to someone on the phone about how fast the car will go and how easy it is to pull out in front of other motorists.

The footage, shot on a tiny camera attached to the central mirror, also shows him revving the engine and flying over speed bumps at 30mph in a 20mph zone.

The driver can be heard saying: "Hang on a minute. I’m trying to outdo everyone down the back roads - 55 to 60mph.

"This car is so quick - it pulls your back out."

He then shouts abuse at another motorist before excitedly saying: "It’s quick. It comes out of the turnings so quick.

"You see a gap and you think, ‘Right, I’m going for it.’

"Once you realise how fast it is - if you’ve got a fast one - you can get out between cars you’d never pull out on and you’re gone."

Mr Bowles, who described the 10-year-old motor as his dream car, said he was not told the MOT and service would be carried out by contractors at the Catford garage.

He sent off the footage and complained to Mercedes-Benz.

News Shopper:

A Mercedes-Benz spokeswoman said: "We were disappointed and concerned to hear about Mr Bowles' experience in June 2014 when he took his car to Mercedes-Benz of Bromley for a service and MOT test.

"While cars are serviced on site, MOT tests are carried out by a contracted third party.

"On hearing about Mr Bowles experience and seeing the footage we took immediate action to cancel our contract with the MOT centre concerned."

Mercedes-Benz paid an independent engineer for Dekra Expert Ltd to carry out an inspection to reassure Mr Bowles the car had not been damaged.

He added: "All cars going for an MOT test are now taken to the new MOT centre by a Mercedes-Benz of Bromley employee."

Joe Angel, owner of Ardgowan Garage in Catford, said: "He's not a mechanic he was just a guy who did driving.

"He would go pick up the cars, we would do the MOT and he would take them back.  He solely picked up the cars.

"Obviously he had all the insurance.

"I asked to speak to the owner to put his mind at rest that it wasn't a mechanic just a driver.

"He was not a permanent worker just casual. I've said to him not to return."

MORE TOP STORIES: