Shame of Rotary Club bigwig who vandalised a Bentley
SICK of suffering repeated scratches to his classic Bentley, Peter Stirling installed a CCTV camera to catch the vandal in the act.
But instead of snaring a mindless youth, footage of the latest attack revealed the culprit was his respected neighbour John Saunders.
The V-shaped mark scratched into the 1954 Bentley was the result of a petty feud between the two men over the management of their apartment block.
Despite the damning video evidence, Saunders, 69, claimed he was only peering into the vehicle and had not caused the £2,000 worth of damage. But the former Rotary Club president was found guilty and ordered to pay his victim’s £ 200 insurance excess, as well as a £1,500 fine.
Saunders, a retired bank manager, vandalised the Bentley in the underground car park of Berechurch Hall, his apartment complex in Colchester.
Mr Stirling’s car had been vandalised on previous occasions, although he did not know who was responsible.
The 60-year-old, who has lived at the building for more than 30 years, revealed the reason for the dispute was his objection to Saunders’ multiple roles as a director of the apartment block’s management firm.
‘I pointed out to him on a couple of occasions I did not think one person should be chairman, secretary and looking after the finances,’ Mr Stirling said.
Describing what happened on June 7 last year, the day his car was scratched, he added: ‘[Saun- ders] was milling around outside the [security] pass door [to the car park]. It had been chained open. I am sensitive about the security because the car has been scratched previously.’
Mr Stirling closed the door and said he received a sarcastic ‘ thank you’ from Saunders, before returning to his flat.
‘I thought if it was going to be scratched in a fit of pique it would happen then,’ he added.
Shortly afterwards, Mr Stirling checked his car and found a fresh scratch. When he looked at the CCTV footage he saw Saunders strolling to the car and scratching its left back panel. Mr Stirling said: ‘He was not aware of the camera. His face is clearly identified.’
He believed his neighbour was also responsible for earlier damage, but Essex Police told him there was not enough evidence to investigate.
The car, a 4.5-litre saloon which once belonged to airline entrepreneur Sir Freddie Laker, cost Mr Stirling £20,000.
He said plans to hire out the Bentley for weddings and proms had to be shelved because of the repeated damage. It has needed £9,000 worth of repairs in total.
Saunders, who appeared before magistrates in Ipswich on Monday, was also ordered to pay £650 costs and a victim surcharge. Retired finance worker Mr Stirling said the whole experience had been ‘very stressful’.
‘I am not prepared to go into the details of what disagreements I have had with him as it’s just too painful,’ he added.
Two- bedroom flats sell for around £250,000 in Berechurch Hall, which has 24 apartments set in quiet woodland on the outskirts of Colchester.
Saunders, former head of Kelvedon and District Rotary Club in Essex, declined to discuss the matter at his home.
Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: ‘It’s all got out of hand – I knew there were a few tensions between them about the residents’ association, but I was stunned when I saw what he did to the Bentley.
‘It’s a lovely car – well known round here – and it’s quite shameful and petty to do such a nasty thing to someone’s pride and joy.’
A spokesman for Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland said the organisation did not ‘ condone any unlawful behaviour’, but admitted Saunders remained a member.
She added: ‘The incident in question is a personal matter and is not related to Rotary International.’
‘Not aware of the camera’