A MAN’S car was towed away by police after he mistakenly reported it missing.

Neil Nam, a father of one, said his car had been stolen on Saturday night while he was at a gig at The Haunt in Pool Valley, Brighton, with his partner Marion Tipler.

But police closed the case straight away because little could be done to find it.

Then, much to the couple’s embarrassment, the red Berlingo was spotted by a friend the next morning in the exact same space outside the Royal Albion Hotel in Old Steine where the couple had left it.

Neil, who had forgotten where he had parked it, said he was relieved the police had not continued with the case, which would have been a “huge waste of their time”.

Thinking his car concerns were over, Neil drove his son, Joseph to Bramber yesterday afternoon for a walk in the park.

But on returning to the car, he saw his “distinctive Berlingo” being towed away from the car park.

Neil, from Portslade, said: “I shouted to the tow-truck driver ‘Oi, mate, why are you taking our car, it’s a free car park!’ thinking they were taking it for non-payment.”

He then approached police in the car park who told him the car had been reported stolen and they had arrived to claim it.

Neil explained the car was in fact his and he was convinced the case had been closed. The officers said their records had clearly not been updated. They apologised and returned the car.

Neil said: “The police ordered the car to be released and we drove home, laughing most of the way.

“Another 60 seconds and it would have been gone and I would have had to report it stolen again.”

Neil said despite the confusion, he was really impressed with the car tracking system the police used and appreciated their behind-the-scenes work.