A DRIVER was threatened with dire consequences including seizure of his car and goods for failing to pay just one pound of a £181 speeding fine.

Mark Boardman, of Scotland Bank Terrace, Blackburn, mistakenly paid £180 of his penalty when he got the ‘Further steps notice’ warning him of the draconian action.

The delivery driver-turned-warehouseman said: “It was stupid and ridiculously heavy handed of the court officials.

“Why could they not just send a letter asking for the pound?

“It was very threatening. I thought the bailiffs were going to turn up on my doorstep and seize my goods or my car.”

His local Ewood councillor Maureen Bateson said: “I think this letter is madness. It’s heavy-handedness gone insane.

“They could just have written politely to him asking for the final pound of his fine.

“It is using a sledgehammer to crack a peanut.”

Mr Boardman, 43, was caught doing 50mph in a 40mph zone on the East Lancs Road near Salford in March last year and pleaded guilty in September.

He was disqualified for six months under the totting up procedure and was forced to change jobs as a result.

Mr Boardman was fined £66 plus a £30 victim surcharge and £85 costs. He made an arrangement to clear the penalty in instalments paying £50 on November 5 and December 1.

After Christmas he decided to clear the debt and rang up the accounts department of Greater Manchester Magistrates' Court to check how much he owed as he did not have the paperwork with him.

They told him the remaining penalty was £80 and he paid it on December 28.

Mr Boardman was then shocked to receive the notice from the department telling him he still owed a pound.

It warned him he faced one or more of several consequences.

They were a warrant giving enforcement agents the right to take control of his goods; a county court judgement affecting his credit rating; deductions from his earning or benefits; removing and selling his vehicle; a case to recover the money in the High or County Court; and enforcement action abroad if he moved to another EU country.

The letter also warned of additional costs added to his existing penalty and possible 50 per cent surcharge on the £181.

Mr Boardman has now paid off the remaining pound.

An HM Courts and Tribunal Service spokesman said: “This is a standard letter which sets out the next steps available if a fine is not paid in full. If paid, no further action will be taken.”

READ > REVEALED: Best and worst GP surgeries in East Lancs

Mr Boardman said: “I was shocked to receive the letter.

“I had rung up to check the amount owed and thought I had paid off the fine well within the time agreed.

“I had already lost my licence for the final speeding offence.

“I am not complaining about the fine but about the tone of letter.

“I’ve got my licence back now and am driving a lot more carefully.”