After being chased for a £1,200 debt payment, one businessman decided he would pay the bailiffs every single penny of what he owed.
Matthew Lemm, went to meet the bailiff in his £50,000 Ford Mustang with a boot full of one pence coins ready to pay off his debt.
In video footage, he is seen opening up the boot to reveal containers and buckets full of the pennies and says to the bailiff this is how he has decided to pay.
The fine was from 2013 when he was in the car business, he told BirminghamLive , and has now decided to pay off the debt.
He forgot to tick the Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) box to let the DVLA know that the vehicle would be off the road.
But the successful businessman – who has two more Walsall companies – moved out shortly after selling the motor and wasn’t aware of the court summons until 2019.
“I received a call from the bailiffs out of the blue,” he said. “They told me that they were acting on behalf of the court and told me to pay a £1,200 debt over the phone"
“He said if I didn’t pay then he would go round to my address, which wasn’t even mine, and would start removing goods that day."
The Cannock-based boss claims the bailiff joked to him that he was "fast and efficient at getting the payment" so began a cunning plan to "slow him down".
He agreed to pay "every single penny" of the debt and drove to Barclays Bank in Walsall to withdraw the 120,000 coins to settle the final bill.
“I rang up to pre-order the coins the day before,” he said. “Luckily, we deal with the bank daily and they didn’t even ask why we needed all the coins – they just handed them over.
“I told them I have every last penny of it and I do have every last penny. Unfortunately for him, though, it’s in 1ps.
“Because I’m a legitimate businessman I want a receipt, which means my man is going to have to count it.”
In the clip – which can be viewed above – begins with Mr Lemm outlining his predicament as he waits for the court bailiff to meet him at the pub.
Following a lengthy conversation, which includes asking if he could settle the bill in instalments, the pub owner directs the white t-shirt clad man to his car and shows him the huge haul of copper stashed in the boot.
A bucket and spade was also placed next to the pile to "help with the removal" of the coins.
Taking the gag in good humour, the perplexed bailiff can be seen saying "he cannot accept" the payment and left it behind.
“The look on his face when he saw the pennies was priceless,” Mr Lemm said. “I offered to pay but he said he did not have to accept it and left it in the boot.
“Sadly, the bailiff has classed it as a non-payment and has said he will take it higher.”
The practical joker said he chose to get his own back "after his attitude on the phone."
He said: “He said he would have a locksmith, my home and take my possessions on the day that he called me is a little bit extreme.
“I’ve done this to prove a point – this kind of experience can be a scary thing.”
Commentators on the video – which has been viewed thousands of times – commended the business owner for his hilarious prank.
“I was in stitches when I saw his face,” one said.
While another added: “That serves them right. They can’t go round demanding cash on the first day they contact you – it’s well out of order.
Marston Holdings has been contacted on a number of occasions for a comment.
At time of publication no statement had been provided.
