A Leeds couple have been left baffled after their Golf GTI 'was caught speeding' at 55mph in a 30mph zone, two days after they had left their car at Manchester Airport.
Gary Thornburn and Clare Beads jetted off to Murcia for 13 days in August. They dropped their car off at the Manchester Terminal 3 Meet and Greet on August 3 before boarding a plane and embarking on the 1,500 mile journey to southern Spain.
But after enjoying almost two weeks in the sun, the couple were met with a prosecution letter from police on their return on August 16, reports the Manchester Evening News. The letter, dated August 10, outlined that their car had been caught speeding on Alan Turing Way - a street 11 miles from the airport.
Read more: ITV Emmerdale star Laura Norton reveals she's expecting second baby with co-star Mark Jordon
The Leeds couple's Golf GTI was caught travelling at 55mph in a 30 zone, but the offence happened on August 5 - two days after they had left their car with the official firm. Pictures in the letter showed a white Golf GTI with the same number plate.
Manchester Airport has confirmed the car was taken to the safe compound by meet and greet staff on August 3 and claimed it remained there for the entirety of the couple's trip and so could not have been used to commit the offence. Gary and Clare have informed the police that they were in Spain when the car was caught speeding and that neither of them were driving it.
Gary said: "I came home (on August 16) just before midnight. We opened the post and my wife came in and said I had a speeding fine from August 5, but I said it can't have been either of us as we were away then.
"We had dropped the car off at Terminal 3 on Wednesday (August 3) at around 10pm. I knew they would transport it elsewhere to a safe location. We used the official meet and greet firm as we wanted to make sure the car was looked after because it was very expensive.
"I would never have thought somebody would have been driving around in it going at such a speed. It's a criminal offence and extremely dangerous going 55mph in a 30 zone."
Gary added he has used meet and greet services before and said he has "never had an issue". "I knew they take the cars off site to somewhere else, but you don't think you'll be accused of speeding 11 miles away from the airport." The couple are waiting to hear back from Greater Manchester Police after explaining that they were not behind the wheel.
A spokesman for Manchester Airport said: "We are aware that a customer who booked Meet & Greet car parking at Manchester Airport has received a notice of intended prosecution from Greater Manchester Police, which relates to an alleged speeding offence that took place while they were on holiday.
“We understand this would be distressing for the customer concerned, and launched an immediate investigation after being notified. This investigation has indicated the car that was booked in with us remained in a secure storage area until it was collected by the customer on their return. The key to the vehicle was also securely stored throughout.
“Further investigations indicate the vehicle shown in the speed camera image is different to the one that was left with us. While the customer concerned has not made a complaint to Manchester Airport, we have made several attempts to speak with them directly, in order to share our findings and remain eager to do so, as well as assisting the police in any enquiries they wish to make into the matter.
"We want to assure customers that there are a number of strict security measures in place to monitor the whereabouts of vehicles left with us and ensure they are kept safe at all times."
Read next:
- 'Incredible' schoolgirl living with cancer on a mission to help others
- Leeds Bradford Airport staff call off strike to consider 'new, improved' pay deal
- Leeds Council workers hit out as hourly rate 'doesn't even cover the costs of a fish and chip supper'
- Leeds boss 'massively sad' as he faces 'mass exodus' due to electric bills
- Life 'hard' for Leeds couple who blame Brexit as sweet prices skyrocket
