Cunobelin wrote: ... THis one annoys m ein that he has got away with it...
They have waived the release fee.
Me I would have been clocking up the charges for the time
Yes. The theory is that the penalties should act as a deterrent, rather than form a source of revenue, even though the reality may be a bit different. Some people have so much £££ that a fixed penalty on its own will never deter them, especially if enforcement only occasionally occurs. Towing away is the nuclear option to deter these people. The release fee etc are just to ensure that the towing away doesn't result in a loss to the authority. The point that this selfish individual says he isn't well-off is here nor there: the fixed penalty didn't stop him parking selfishly.
This was all given a different slant in the Christmas Eve edition of the Daily Telegraph including:
... The drama led to a tense stand-off with police, who were unable to persuade the motorist to leave his car. Mr. Sanders said they threatened to smash his windows and arrest him ...
I note without comment that the Daily T describes him as a double glazing salesman.