COUNCIL bosses who hounded a dad for £300 after a car he doesn't even own was caught in a bus lane have scrapped the charge - thanks to the Evening Times.

Stephen Bitters, 38, hailed the move a "major victory for the wee man" and praised our paper for ending his nightmare ordeal.

He was in Spain on holiday with his family when CCTV snapped his old Renault Clio in Maryhill Road, Glasgow last June.

Stephen had sold his car a month earlier to a car dealership and showed the council proof but he still ended up with sheriff officers at his door and threats of legal action.

He said: "It's been torture and the council made my life a misery for a year because they refused to believe that I didn't own the car.

"I've spent every spare minute on the phone to the council trying to get this sorted.

"I sent them proof that I wasn't the owner and I was on holiday in Spain at the time of the offence but they refused to accept it.

"Even my local politicians couldn't fix it but the Evening Times managed to sort it out in a few days and I can't thank the paper enough.

"When I was told they had scrapped the bill I just felt absolute relief and joy that my nightmare was finally over and I can sleep at night again. It has been utter torture. I was treated like a criminal but this is victory for the wee man.

"It just proves you shouldn't give up fighting against these big organisations if you know you are innocent.

"I can't believe it's over, I can start living my life again without all that worry."

Scottish Water engineer Stephen, from Nitshill, Glasgow, came home from his holiday last July to a £60 penalty notice and called the council to tell them he wasn't owner.

He has fought the charge ever since, and the bill topped £244 with legal costs for sheriff officers, letters threatening legal action and court charges.

But the council backed down after we stepped in. A council spokesman said: "The ticket has been cancelled."

janice.burns@ eveningtimes.co.uk