A controversial clamping firm has finally honoured a court order to pay back an unfair fine - seven weeks late.

Security Core of Brighton Ltd - contracted by Brighton and Hove City Council - flouted a court order to return £140 to a motorist.

In March Tony Greenstein won a county court ruling against the firm after his wife's Rover 400 was clamped in Jubilee Street, Brighton, while she popped into the nearby library.

Fiona Greenstein displayed the disabled badge she has because her 17-year-old son Daniel is autistic. The badge had slipped off the dashboard and her vehicle was clamped.

Security Core of Brighton Ltd refused to return the £125 charge but a district judge at Brighton County Court ordered it to pay a full refund plus £10 costs and £5 interest.

In desperation Mr Greenstein sent bailiffs to the company's registered address in Western Road, Brighton, but they were met with just a PO box used for correspondence.

Now, some seven weeks after the court's March 19 deadline, Mr Greenstein has finally received the refund.

He said: "I get the impression that it is only after being named and shamed in the Argus that the company has decided to pay up. This was a matter of principle as much as anything else.

"These people basically think they can go round bullying people out of their money and seem to think they are above the law. It's a disgrace that they have anything to do with the city council.

"In essence they are taking money and hiding behind a smokescreen. there is just no accountability. They serve no useful social purpose and the sooner they are put out of business the better for all of us."

Mr Greenstein said the city council, which approved Security Core of Brighton Ltd as a contractor in 2005, should cut all ties with the company immediately.

And pressure is growing for town hall bosses to drop the firm as a string of unhappy motorists contacted the Argus.

In September last year Security Core clampers targeted Richard Poulton, 75, and friend Val Jackson, 66, during a day trip to Brighton Marina.

They had parked in a disabled bay on the ground floor of the free car park because Mrs Jackson, a widow of Chalky Road, Portslade, has Parkinson's disease and finds it difficult to walk up and down stairs.

But because her disabled badge was displayed the wrong way round they returned two hours later to discover they had been clamped.

And in July last year Shirley Poluck paid £125 to have her car released from Jubilee Street, Brighton, despite displaying the disabled badge granted for her husband who has Alzheimer's.

A city council spokesman told the Argus that it was reviewing its links with Security Core of Brighton Ltd as "a matter of urgency".

The company has consistently refused to comment when approached by The Argus.

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