VANDALISED TUSCAN S
Discussion
Hi all
Please help!!
2 weeks ago I purchased my first TVR. A beautiful crystal topaz Tuscan S in stunning condition and 16k on the clock. This car has instantly become my pride and joy and so you can imagine how gutted I wsa last night to come out of a restaurant in Weybridge, Surrey to find it had been vandalised.
Driver door, near and off-side wings, rear-end and spoiler have all been scratched with wooden branches kindly left for me by the purpertrator in my exhaust pipes. The good news (or so I thought) was that everything was caught on CCTV in amazing detail and I have full details on who did it and the police know where they live. The bad news is that the person who did it was an 8 year old kid who in this wonderful country of ours cannot be prosecuted as the law states that anyone under the age of 10 is not capable of causing criminal damage with intent. So much so that the police won't even pay his parents a visit to tell them what he did and give him a warning. Future car thief there I think! Also, a civil action will end up costing a fortune and I'm unlikely to get anywhere with that.
Basically whilst the sratches are not horrendous, they are noticable and so will most likely require resraying whole panels. Does anyone know anywhere around London area which is known to do a good job on pearlescent TVR paint for a good price?? I've decided that perhaps the full monty fix is not the way forward as its parked on the street anyhow so open for further abuse.
Any ideas and suggestions would be greatly appreciatd
Thanks guys
Peter
Please help!!
2 weeks ago I purchased my first TVR. A beautiful crystal topaz Tuscan S in stunning condition and 16k on the clock. This car has instantly become my pride and joy and so you can imagine how gutted I wsa last night to come out of a restaurant in Weybridge, Surrey to find it had been vandalised.
Driver door, near and off-side wings, rear-end and spoiler have all been scratched with wooden branches kindly left for me by the purpertrator in my exhaust pipes. The good news (or so I thought) was that everything was caught on CCTV in amazing detail and I have full details on who did it and the police know where they live. The bad news is that the person who did it was an 8 year old kid who in this wonderful country of ours cannot be prosecuted as the law states that anyone under the age of 10 is not capable of causing criminal damage with intent. So much so that the police won't even pay his parents a visit to tell them what he did and give him a warning. Future car thief there I think! Also, a civil action will end up costing a fortune and I'm unlikely to get anywhere with that.
Basically whilst the sratches are not horrendous, they are noticable and so will most likely require resraying whole panels. Does anyone know anywhere around London area which is known to do a good job on pearlescent TVR paint for a good price?? I've decided that perhaps the full monty fix is not the way forward as its parked on the street anyhow so open for further abuse.
Any ideas and suggestions would be greatly appreciatd
Thanks guys
Peter
Gutted for you. How about approaching the parents nicely first (difficult I know) and asking them to make good?
Failing that, how about a civil action against the parents? I believe the small claims court is cheap and easy but not sure if it covers this sort of thing.
As a parent of an eight year old I would actually want to know if my kids were doing this sort of thing so I could discipline them. You may get a positive and embarrasingly horrified reaction if you show the parents what their offspring has been up to. There are still a lot of decent people out there.
Failing that, how about a civil action against the parents? I believe the small claims court is cheap and easy but not sure if it covers this sort of thing.
As a parent of an eight year old I would actually want to know if my kids were doing this sort of thing so I could discipline them. You may get a positive and embarrasingly horrified reaction if you show the parents what their offspring has been up to. There are still a lot of decent people out there.
Peter also sorry to hear that, if your car was scratched but has not pierced the paint by the branches a good body shop could possibly take them out with a compound they use, not sure of the technical name of it but i have taken lots of my cars in with scuffs and scratches and they have always be able to bring the paint back as new.
Good luck mate.
Good luck mate.
Gutted for you, I would be murderously livid.
If I had done that as a child (and no joke here) my dad would have caned me. And paid for the damage.
Not sure you can really hope for that in New Labia's Benefit Heaven, but if you have the balls (and the self control) to go see the parents calmly with a copy of the CCTV you might be surprised.
Failing that, your effort will look good in the small claims court. If they don't volunteer, nail them.
P
If I had done that as a child (and no joke here) my dad would have caned me. And paid for the damage.
Not sure you can really hope for that in New Labia's Benefit Heaven, but if you have the balls (and the self control) to go see the parents calmly with a copy of the CCTV you might be surprised.
Failing that, your effort will look good in the small claims court. If they don't volunteer, nail them.
P
Sorry to hear about this.Its happened to me so I know just how you feel.I think you should approach the parents but do take care.If they are reasonable people with a problem you may well get some satisfaction-if they are the problem rather than the child make sure you go with a witness.Most 'informed' parents are very savvy.Mungo might be able to give you some offline advice on the approach.
Edited by sideways mostly on Sunday 11th June 22:23
I would get a solicitor to produce a letter to the parents explaining what happened together with the CCTV evidence. Not a scare letter but carefully worded etc. For all they know your minted and can / could afford / justifty taking their little boy to court. They would have no idea that deep down this is not the case. Most decent parents would at least acknowlegde the fact that their child is to blame and at least make a token payment to offset the costs.Would they want all the hassle?
I would fully explore this avenue before getting anything down. Also they really do need to know what their angle child is like when they are not around. They could be no worse but on the otherhand they could end up paying for it. you will never know if you don't try.
best of luck
I would fully explore this avenue before getting anything down. Also they really do need to know what their angle child is like when they are not around. They could be no worse but on the otherhand they could end up paying for it. you will never know if you don't try.
best of luck
had a similar thing happen to me about three years ago.
a young lad about 8 or 9 years old used a small brass padlock, as he walked by our cars he run it across about 9 bonnets scratching right down to primer on most,
I caught him red-handed, I called the plod but got same response basically.
So I found out where he lived and visited his parents,I showed them footage from our own cctv camera`s and they denied it was their lad,even though it was as obvious it was him,
they refused to contribute and then started mouthing off in the street.
Went home and spoke to a solicitor,who being car mad himself was rightly outraged,
he made me up a letter stating payment was expected or court action would follow,which they ignored.
then sent a summons which prompted the father to turn up at my address with a plea and offer of £300,which i turned down, meanwhile my cleaner arrived and unintetionally blocked his car on my driveway,which was quite handy as it sat there for 5 months as I wouldnt release it,even plod said that he would have to sue me to get it back,
so I waited, then one day I recieved a letter containing logbook for his car.
he had admitted defeat! I sold the car (still left me about £800 down)but I got a result of sorts.BUT IT SHOULDNT HAVE TO COME TO THIS,
my advice: take it all the way!
a young lad about 8 or 9 years old used a small brass padlock, as he walked by our cars he run it across about 9 bonnets scratching right down to primer on most,
I caught him red-handed, I called the plod but got same response basically.
So I found out where he lived and visited his parents,I showed them footage from our own cctv camera`s and they denied it was their lad,even though it was as obvious it was him,
they refused to contribute and then started mouthing off in the street.
Went home and spoke to a solicitor,who being car mad himself was rightly outraged,
he made me up a letter stating payment was expected or court action would follow,which they ignored.
then sent a summons which prompted the father to turn up at my address with a plea and offer of £300,which i turned down, meanwhile my cleaner arrived and unintetionally blocked his car on my driveway,which was quite handy as it sat there for 5 months as I wouldnt release it,even plod said that he would have to sue me to get it back,
so I waited, then one day I recieved a letter containing logbook for his car.
he had admitted defeat! I sold the car (still left me about £800 down)but I got a result of sorts.BUT IT SHOULDNT HAVE TO COME TO THIS,
my advice: take it all the way!
What about ASBOs? I thought this was the kind of behaviour they were meant to target. Perhaps contact your council and see if there's anything they can do?
As for the police not wanting to get involved, I think you ought to write a letter to them and your MP and remind them that the law in this country is designed for the victim to seek assistance rather than taking the law into their own hands. If you visited this kids parents (and say they were nasty chav parents who didn't care) and things got heated and it turned ugly, you'd be the one in the cell. Parents are responsible for their childrens actions, the BiB could prosecute the parents.
As for the police not wanting to get involved, I think you ought to write a letter to them and your MP and remind them that the law in this country is designed for the victim to seek assistance rather than taking the law into their own hands. If you visited this kids parents (and say they were nasty chav parents who didn't care) and things got heated and it turned ugly, you'd be the one in the cell. Parents are responsible for their childrens actions, the BiB could prosecute the parents.
t put hair mouse all over the car, not hard to get rid of, i agree, but pointless none the less. jealous idiots, best ting is, what goes round comes roundPeter Tuscan S said:
Hi all
Please help!!
2 weeks ago I purchased my first TVR. A beautiful crystal topaz Tuscan S in stunning condition and 16k on the clock. This car has instantly become my pride and joy and so you can imagine how gutted I wsa last night to come out of a restaurant in Weybridge, Surrey to find it had been vandalised.
Driver door, near and off-side wings, rear-end and spoiler have all been scratched with wooden branches kindly left for me by the purpertrator in my exhaust pipes. The good news (or so I thought) was that everything was caught on CCTV in amazing detail and I have full details on who did it and the police know where they live. The bad news is that the person who did it was an 8 year old kid who in this wonderful country of ours cannot be prosecuted as the law states that anyone under the age of 10 is not capable of causing criminal damage with intent. So much so that the police won't even pay his parents a visit to tell them what he did and give him a warning. Future car thief there I think! Also, a civil action will end up costing a fortune and I'm unlikely to get anywhere with that.
Basically whilst the sratches are not horrendous, they are noticable and so will most likely require resraying whole panels. Does anyone know anywhere around London area which is known to do a good job on pearlescent TVR paint for a good price?? I've decided that perhaps the full monty fix is not the way forward as its parked on the street anyhow so open for further abuse.
Any ideas and suggestions would be greatly appreciatd
Thanks guys
Peter
Please help!!
2 weeks ago I purchased my first TVR. A beautiful crystal topaz Tuscan S in stunning condition and 16k on the clock. This car has instantly become my pride and joy and so you can imagine how gutted I wsa last night to come out of a restaurant in Weybridge, Surrey to find it had been vandalised.
Driver door, near and off-side wings, rear-end and spoiler have all been scratched with wooden branches kindly left for me by the purpertrator in my exhaust pipes. The good news (or so I thought) was that everything was caught on CCTV in amazing detail and I have full details on who did it and the police know where they live. The bad news is that the person who did it was an 8 year old kid who in this wonderful country of ours cannot be prosecuted as the law states that anyone under the age of 10 is not capable of causing criminal damage with intent. So much so that the police won't even pay his parents a visit to tell them what he did and give him a warning. Future car thief there I think! Also, a civil action will end up costing a fortune and I'm unlikely to get anywhere with that.
Basically whilst the sratches are not horrendous, they are noticable and so will most likely require resraying whole panels. Does anyone know anywhere around London area which is known to do a good job on pearlescent TVR paint for a good price?? I've decided that perhaps the full monty fix is not the way forward as its parked on the street anyhow so open for further abuse.
Any ideas and suggestions would be greatly appreciatd
Thanks guys
Peter
Privately prosecute the parents.
Cerbyt said:
Things like this make me furious!! 
I am absolutely gutted for you - hope you manage to get some sort of recompense from the parents of the litlle f**k*r. I'd string him up now as it'll save on prison bills later in his life!
I am absolutely gutted for you - hope you manage to get some sort of recompense from the parents of the litlle f**k*r. I'd string him up now as it'll save on prison bills later in his life!I am with Cerby T
. Little S*it will cost us all dear later in life!(well if the prisions have any space left). I would punish his parents via court as well! Whats an 8 year old doing out on his own, more importantly who told him it was a good idea! or acceptable practice? Finished the rant! I am truely gutted that your pride and joy, and of course alot of money has been ravaged in such a way! I only hope you can seek recompense some way.
Nearly everybody loves a TVR..............It was a real stroke of bad bad luck, dont be frightened to take it out and leave it again, honestly!
There are a couple of good solicitors /lawyers (petrol Heads) on here, it may be worth starting up a thread "Legal Advice" I am sure they will share your pain and advice you well!
Good Luck!
Paul
As above - private prosecution. Try the gentler method through a solicitor first. If you believe that the parents of said sprog could afford to reimburse you, then you should consider your case and issue proceedings against them. But, if they live in council flat and drive a Robin with obviously no means to make ends meet anyway, then this would be a waste of time.
Really sorry to hear about this and hope that it is only a temporary set back to TVR ownership. On the whole, they usually attract more positive attention than can be said of Porsche, Ferrari and BMW etc. Unbelievable (in my own little world) that such a thing could be done by an 8 year old. Sadly, my wife who is a solicitor specialising in crime, sees this kind of thing day in, day out, and has had her cars vandalised when parked outside of the criminal courts. If I caught the perp, I would genuinely feel like giving them a really good hiding without thought of the consequences to myself afterwards!
Really sorry to hear about this and hope that it is only a temporary set back to TVR ownership. On the whole, they usually attract more positive attention than can be said of Porsche, Ferrari and BMW etc. Unbelievable (in my own little world) that such a thing could be done by an 8 year old. Sadly, my wife who is a solicitor specialising in crime, sees this kind of thing day in, day out, and has had her cars vandalised when parked outside of the criminal courts. If I caught the perp, I would genuinely feel like giving them a really good hiding without thought of the consequences to myself afterwards!
Gutted for you Peter and hope you have the energy and will to continue to pursue this as someone should be made to pay - most notably his parents.
I am also somewhat concerned - Weybridge is v close to where I work and not somewhere I would have considered a risk - and I have to go there in the next couple of weeks
I am also somewhat concerned - Weybridge is v close to where I work and not somewhere I would have considered a risk - and I have to go there in the next couple of weeks
It is a disgrace that the Police cant be bothered to treat this case with the sincerity it deserves. It is their job to visit the parents in my view and try and take preventitive measures. If they refuse tell them you are going round yourself and demand they come with you.
As a parent I would want to know if my kid had done this and I would expect the Police to inform me! Definitely go and see them.
As a parent I would want to know if my kid had done this and I would expect the Police to inform me! Definitely go and see them.
Forums | Tuscan | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff