Marathon sit-in driver claims clamping victory

A DRIVER has claimed a victory for beleaguered motorists after holding a 30-hour vigil in his clamped car until a fine of almost £4,000 (€4,840) was withdrawn.

Haroon Zafaryab, 27, emerged from prayers at his local mosque in north London to find his Toyota Prius was clamped after he failed to spot a private property sign.

The exasperated father- of-one waited for the clampers’ tow truck to arrive and then jumped into his car to stop the enforcement team — who were demanding £365 — from moving it.

Zafaryab, a nursery boss from Kingsbury with a one-year-old son, said: “I told the clamper the private property sign said the fine was £100 but he said I had to pay £365 as the car had been there for more than two hours. So I refused to move.”

Joined by friend Fazan Munir, 23, he sat in the car from 1.18pm that day until after 7pm the next day, leaving the clampers unable to tow it from Copland Mews, Wembley.

During the stand-off City Watch Parking Enforcement clamped the three other wheels of the car and the fine was raised to an eye-watering £3,865. About 40 parking tickets were plastered on the windows.

The friends, who were celebrating the Muslim festival of Ramadan, were brought kebabs, dates and milk to break their fast by supportive local residents.

The clampers’ boss finally told them to accept the £100 Zafaryab offered and to remove the clamps.