LEGAL chiefs have dropped a court case against a Hampshire dad-of-three who cut off a car clamp with an angle grinder.

For six months. salesman and bar worker Mark Weldon, 50, had lived under the shadow of having a criminal conviction after he was charged with criminal damage for removing the clamp which, he claimed, was fitted illegally.

Controversial clampers, Whites Car Park Solutions, targeted his car at The Irish Club in Eastleigh, where Mark works as steward and lives in a flat above.

He told the Daily Echo the company had been hired by the landlord of a neighbouring property.

While working behind the bar at a wedding function, friends told Mark his Toyota Avensis was being clamped – even though, he says, it was parked on club land.

He claimed he was told he would be charged £150 to remove the clamp and, when he refused to pay, he says he was told it was going up to £400 to cover the cost of a tow truck.

Mark could also have faced an extra charge for using a card and £35-a-day storage. The incident happened in November, and Mark pleaded not guilty at New Forest Magistrates’ Court and was due to go to trial yesterday at Southampton Magistrates’ Court.

However, just minutes before Mark was due in court, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case through lack of evidence.

District Crown Prosecutor, Frank Richardson, said: “The police submitted case papers for advice and the prosecution decided there was a realistic prospect of conviction.

“However, we received confirmation from the police that an essential witness could not be traced or contacted.

“On further review, considering all the issues in the case, the prosecution decided there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.”

It is understood the essential witness who could not be traced or contacted was the clamper who at the time worked for Mr White. The case is thought to have cost taxpayers around £1,000.

Mark told the Daily Echo: “I feel this is a victory for common sense.

“I am pleased I have been proved right but disappointed it has taken so long to sort out.

“I just cannot believe I was the one who ended up in court.

“It’s just a shame the costs for this case are not coming out of Jason White’s pocket.”

Mr White said: “If he didn’t have a valid permit on display, that would be why he was clamped and if you call me again, I will be contacting the police.”

He refused to comment further or offer advice on what motorists should do if they feel they have been clamped without cause.

The Daily Echo has reported a string of complaints by drivers who have been stung with huge fines by Whites.

The highest so far was the £714 demanded from trainee doctor Chris Airey, 29, whose car was clamped at Alexander Square, Eastleigh, while he was visiting his girlfriend.

It was claimed that Whites had clamped as many as 30 motorists in one day during one clamping spree near Tesco Express in Spring Road, Southampton, but the firm denied this saying that only 11 cars had ever been involved.

Whites have also denied ever applying a £50 rudeness fine to motorists complaining against their actions, however the threat of such an extra payment did appear in their literature and on their website.