A court heard how a car wash employee broke up a customer’s vintage Mercedes on a 60-mile joyride after being assigned to give it a’super valet.’
Omid Abas, 41, claimed he lost control while trying to escape a mouse that scurried across the road, causing thousands of pounds in damage to the rare 1992 550E Mercedes.
When 77-year-old Kevin Murphy came to pick up the car – one of just 29 imported to the UK – he discovered it had been nearly written out in the crash, with one wheel practically horizontal.
Abas had driven the automobile from his business in Runcorn, Cheshire, to his home in Stockport, Greater Manchester, and returned in 90 minutes.
Abas, who has never taken a driving test in the United Kingdom, crashed the automobile barely five miles from where it was supposed to be returned.
The 30-year-old blue car, which has roughly 26,000 miles on the clock, was normally chauffeur driven, according to property landlord Mr Murphy, who added: ‘It was a treasured and appreciated item.’
Abas pleaded guilty to aggravated car theft and driving without a license or insurance at Warrington Magistrates’ Court and was given a 12-month driving suspension.
‘Every item of work on it was always done by Mercedes, and I put a lot of effort into maintaining it in perfect shape.’
‘I was devastated when I learnt of the devastation. While I do not feel threatened or endangered as a result of this, I am much more cautious about who I trust with my automobiles.
‘I had to spend time looking for another car to get extra components.’ This is a laborious and time-consuming operation. I’m concerned that the vehicle may be written off.
‘At the moment, I am not at a loss because no work has been done, but I anticipate to spend roughly £5,000 for the vehicle to be properly fixed out of my own pocket, not insurance.’
A charge of driving without due care and attention was dropped separately. Despite the incident, Abas and the victim are claimed to be on friendly terms.
Mr Murphy had often dropped off the treasured vehicle at the Runcorn car wash, where valets cost up to £60, according to prosecutor Angela Blackmore.
The owner owns the land where the car wash is located and refused to allow the vehicle to be driven ‘other than around the courtyard’ of the car wash.
‘He stated he had owned the automobile for 30 years and hailed it as a classic,’ Mrs Blackmore recalled. It was in excellent shape and was generally chauffeured.’
On March 13, Abas, who had been assigned to give the vehicle a £30’super valet,’ drove the car to his house before losing control of it as he was about to return to his employment.
Skid traces on a pavement and grass verge changed direction upon reaching a light post, crossing the road and onto the other pavement, then down another grass verge until slamming into a wall, according to a police report of the accident site.
‘The length of the skid tracks from start to finish was roughly 80 meters,’ the prosecutor said, adding, ‘The car was severely damaged.’ The ground was approximately horizontal with the near-side wheel arch.’
Abas was discovered sleeping beside the car and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance next to the crashed Mercedes. He subsequently told police that a mouse had run across the road and he began to swerve to avoid it.
‘He exhibits a lot of regret and this looks to be real remorse,’ defence counsel Philip Green said for Abas, who had no previous convictions.
Abas was given a 12-week jail term that was suspended for a year.
‘Having taken the automobile unlawfully, you lost control and wrecked it, inflicting what is plainly substantial damage to the motor vehicle – a vehicle that was clearly valued by its owner and possibly has a value to him greater than the vehicle’s monetary value,’ said District Judge Mark Hadfield.
Abas was sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid labour, as well as costs and a victim fee of £213. There was no compensation order issued.
Between 1990 and 1995, only about 10,500 Mercedes 500Es were produced in collaboration with Porsche. Only 29 of the models were shipped to the United Kingdom.