A WITHAM used car dealership is thousands of pounds out of pocket after an uninsured motorist smashed at speed into its forecourt before running off.

The white Fiat Stilo smashed through the entrance of Markham & Smith in Newland Street, crashing into four cars and spilling oil and coolant.

As neighbours dialled 999, the tracksuit-clad driver and an accomplice fled the scene Owner Jason Tarling, 40, who has worked there since 2000 and bought the dealership and service garage seven years ago, said he was gutted.

Mr Tarling, of Wickham Bishops, said: “It’s particularly gutting really because the car that hit them had no insurance, tax or MOT certificate and it’s from out of the area.

“The police had to call for a recovery vehicle to take it off the forecourt at about 1.30am for forensic testing and I was here until about 2am cleaning, as well as again the next day.

“Therewas oil all over the forecourtbecauseoneof ourcars suffered a broken engine sump and there was water and coolant all over the place. It was a complete mess.

“There were four cars damaged; two Ford Fiestas, a Smart car and a Volvo; It’s about £7,000 worth of damage and we will only get trade value back from the insurance company so we will be at a loss.”

Braintree and Witham Times:

Mr Taylor’s fiancee, Natalie Hayward, 31, who works at the dealer as bookkeeper added: “They have damaged a customer’s car, which is possibly written off. It’s not nice to have to tell your customer that their car has been damaged.

“They must have been going at some speed; the car they hit turned around and smashed into the car behind it. I’m amazed they got out and ran off because the airbags went off.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Police were contacted shortly before 11.30pm on Tuesday, November 10 with reports of awhite FiatStilo in collision with parked cars in a garage.

“The occupants of the car left the scene. They are described as agedbetween 18 and 24 and wearing tracksuits.”

Contact Essex Police on 101.