A SALESMAN whose car was wrongly taken by scrapyard dealers says he feels “completely cheated”.

Kaff Khan, of Copper Mill Lane, Walthamstow, was baffled when his red Renault Clio disappeared from an unrestricted spot next to the Gulf Petrol Station in Blackhorse Road.

The 34-year-old claims he contacted Waltham Forest Council who told him it had been towed away after complaints it was abandoned - even though it was fully taxed and had an up to date MOT.

He buys and sells cars for a living and often leaves them in spaces across Walthamstow, and is now demanding to be compensated him for what happened.

Speaking to the Waltham Forest Guardian, he said: “I was absolutely shocked when I realised they’d taken the car, I almost had a breakdown.

“I was really fuming and really upset. This is my livelihood, it’s how I make money. How dare they do something like that?

“I would understand if it wasn’t taxed but it wasn’t. How can they just take a car left in the middle of the road? It wasn’t abandoned or anything.”

The 2007 registration car cost £1,600 when Mr Khan bought it in July and he spent time repairing damage to the engine, hoping to sell it on.

According to Waltham Forest Council, he was sent numerous letters after neighbours complained the car had been abandoned.

But he claims he did not receive any and was left even more frustrated when the DVLA told him there was no reason for the car to be impounded.

Mr Khan tracked down the company who took the car, Redcorn, and went to their head offices in White Hart Lane, Tottenham, where he asked to see his car.

They took him round to the yard and he was horrified to see its doors and engine had already been taken apart.

He is considering buying the engine back for £250 to avoid it being sold to someone else.

Mr Khan added: “I felt relieved when I saw my car there but I’m also feeling really cheated. In six days they had nearly dismantled all of my car’s parts and stripped it to the bone.

“It’s all very unacceptable. They’ve made my life very difficult and I deserve to be compensated for this, and be reimbursed for the car. I want to sue the council.

“I have other cars on the road in similar locations and now I am worried about the same thing happening to them. This is my living, my livelihood, and they’ve snatched that away from me.

“The way I see it is they don’t have a leg to stand on. This isn’t on.”

Redcorn Ltd said it could not comment.

Cllr Clyde Loakes, deputy leader and cabinet member for environment said the car was spotted by an officer during a patrol.

He added: "The officer had previously observed that the vehicle had been parked there for some time, and upon closer inspection it appeared to not be in running order.

"A letter was sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle on to ascertain its current status or whether it had been abandoned.

"The letter was returned to the council stating that the person was not known at the address.

"The vehicle was taxed until July 30, but due to the letter being returned and the length of time it had been left, it was considered to be abandoned and therefore removed.

"The DVLA check carried out on the vehicle did not show that the car had been sold to a registered motor trader.

"The owner has now been advised what he needs to do if he wishes to pursue a claim against the council for this.”