Defiant gardener refuses to remove abuse message about his insurers from work van despite police warning
Alan Clark says he gets 30 to 40 thumbs-ups a week as he drives around, and will only remove the message if served with a court summons
A DEFIANT gardener is refusing to remove the words "Aviva Insurance Shower of b***ards!" from the back of his truck - despite a police warning.
Alan Clark, 68, is locked in a row with the insurers after they cancelled his policy, claimed he'd lied about his no claims bonus, and demanded £900 to reinstate it.
He says he gets 30 to 40 thumbs-ups a week as he drives around Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, and will only remove the Father Ted-inspired message is he's served with a court summons.
Alan says he has twice been contacted by the police over the slur.
He said: "I get about 30 to 40 people a week give me the thumbs up, and lots of people stopping to ask for my picture.
"The sign isn't going anywhere until Aviva give me back my money and apologise. William Shakespeare used the word bastard hundreds of times in his writings, in every implied sense.
"Perhaps the police would like to ban these plays being performed in public?"
Mr Clark purchased insurance from Aviva in November. However, in January he received a letter saying his policy had been cancelled four weeks earlier.
The company said he lied about his no claims bonus and unless he paid an extra £900 they would not reinstate his policy.
But Alan said his previous car insurers had not told him it paid money to a claimant, and he did not feel he should be punished.
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Alan, of Chalfont Road, Rickmansworth, was visited by a police officer and a community officer on August 19. He was issued with a formal warning and told to remove the sign or be fined for a public order offence.
He said: "Those two officers disturbed me during my dinner. I told them the sign wasn't going anywhere and that I thought convicting people without a trial ended in 1215 when we created the Magna Carta."
Olivia Finucane, speaking for Hertfordshire Police, said: "Mr Clark was visited on August 19 and given a formal warning.
"It is a public offence because the sign is causing alarm and distress to people. He was given ten days to remove the sign or we will return and fine him."
I thought convicting people without a trial ended in 1215 when we created the Magna Carta
Aviva said it cancelled Alan’s policy because he failed to provide proof of his no claims discount.
It said they sent him an email and letter explaining that his policy would be cancelled.
Speaking on behalf of Aviva, Erik Nelson said: “Mr Clarke’s policy was cancelled as he did not make us aware of two claims he was at fault for when he was with a previous insurer.
“We have offered to revisit this and update our records accordingly if it was found the claims were recorded incorrectly.
“Until we hear differently from his broker, we are correct in recording the claims as at fault and cancelling his policy due to non-disclosure.”