SPAIN HOLDS CLEARED DRIVER
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• British truck driver Roy Clarke, completely cleared of drug smuggling charges in Spain a fortnight ago, is still stuck there against his will and is returning to court in a bid to retrieve his passport.
"My mood is turning to anger," says Clarke. "The police still have my passport and until I get the judge's written report I've got to report to them twice a month. I was offered a temporary passport just so I could get home, but I've just been to get it and was told it's not legal after all.
"It's unbelievable—they don't care about people here," he adds. "I went into jail aged 45 and came out 47. Those days can never be replaced. They have to tell me why they kept me in jail for 20 months, but not one person knows. The consulate won't do anything and my lawyer is afraid to upset anyone. Now we're running out of money here. We've had to pay for everything. My wife is going home because we cannot afford for her to stay any more."
Clarke also faces £3,000 in "parking" charges from Spanish police for holding his truck in the pound, plus a £3,421.29p bill from Central Trailer Rentco (CTR) for the unexpected extension in trailer rental {CM 19-25 October). Clarke was held for 20 months by the Spanish before being cleared of all charges.