A trader whose shop sustained thousands of pounds worth of damage when a runaway car smashed into it is appealing for the vehicle’s mystery owner to come forward.
Nick Roseborne, 27, owner of Computer Matters in Finchley Road, Temple Fortune, faces a bill of £6,000 in repairs after a blue Golf, parked opposite his computer repair store on Monday last week, was left without its handbrake on and rolled across the road and into his shop front.
Mr Roseborne, who had closed for the day shortly before the incident, returned the next day to find the damage and was told about what had happened by neighbouring traders.
He said: “I opened the shop’s shutters – it was a bit stiff to open – and I noticed a big crack in the window from top to bottom.
“An elderly lady had parked diagonally opposite my shop. She got out of her car but forgot to put the handbrake on and the car started rolling back over the road and into my shop.
“Being elderly she couldn’t get back into the car and stop it. So lots of people saw it roll across the road and into the shop front. I understand it held up a lot of traffic.”
Last week’s incident has left Mr Roseborne facing a hefty insurance claim with the shop requiring a new shutter, front window and door.
He is desperate to find the owner of the car, believed to be aged between 70 and 80, to assist with the insurance claim.
He said: “I understand she was very upset and very sorry [following the incident]. She did come and talk to people and she said she was going to come back. But she hasn’t come back.
“Supposedly she lives in Hampstead Garden Suburb because that’s what she said. She told people she lived around the corner.”
Mr Roseborne, who grew up in North End in the Suburb, added: “I’ve lived here all my life and I know people around here know each other and know what goes on.
“I’m hoping that the driver sees this and comes forward. I would like to meet this woman because I need her for my insurance cost because I have nothing at the moment.
“My insurance is going to go up because of this and it’s going to cost me my excess as well.”
If you have any information which could help Mr Roseborne, contact him on 07968 561 355 or e-mail info@computer-matters.co.uk
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