Having your car stolen while away on holiday is bad enough, but finding out it has then been scrapped by Sutton Council was enough to leave one BMW owner feeling totally crushed.

Stunned Gary McIlroy returned from his holiday in Cyprus to find his N-reg motor on which he splashed out £18,000 three years ago was missing from outside his garage. But worse was to come.

His BMW was later tracked down to Cheyham Way in Cheam, where it had been dumped by joyriders, picked up by traffic wardens and impounded at a site in Croydon. Seven days later the car, now estimated to be worth £7,000, was pulverised.

By statute, untaxed cars must be removed from the road within one week. Mr McIlroy, who lives in Chipstead, accepts it was untaxed and not insured but is furious it was scrapped so quickly.

"I can't believe someone would authorise to scrap the car and to have done it so quickly," he told the Guardian.

"If they had held on another five days the situation would not have come to this. I could understand if it had been torched or if it had been a 20-year-old Ford in a real state, but this was an expensive car."

The self-employed 34 year old is now seeking an apology and compensation from the council. He also wants a review of the length of time cars are held before being scrapped.

The council said because it was not reported stolen, there was no way of tracing the owner.

A spokesman said: "There was nothing that could have been done. A standard seven day warning was posted on the car and we have a statutory duty to remove the vehicle.

"The tax disc expired in March 1999 and there were scratches down the side of the car.

"It was sent to be scrapped. The man rang up on November 7 and spoke to the council who told him what had happened."

The council added no complaint had yet been received from Mr McIlroy.

November 23, 2001 11:30