no prizes for guessing which cityA dream wedding was ruined for a Tamworth family after an ‘unlicensed’ driver sped off with a box full of cash and gifts – seconds after dropping them outside the venue.
It was supposed to be the best day of Sam Kinder’s life as she prepared to wed David last Saturday at
St George’s Hall in Liverpool.But as she and her family and friends arrived, they claim a suspected unlicensed driver drove away with more than £300 of spending money for their honeymoon, sentimental photos and wedding gifts in his boot.
Sam, from Amington, and David are currently in Disneyland Florida but her aunt Lorraine Jones fumed: “It completely ruined the day. We felt disjointed from everything that we should have been doing.
“As soon as we got there and he dropped us off, he did a wheel spin and sped off.
“We were all left standing outside in our dresses and it was absolutely freezing and starting to hail.
“We had been looking forward to this day for months. Whoever it was has to be held responsible.
“It was obvious we weren’t from the city because we were asking so many questions and he preyed on us.”
Sam, aged 27 and a former pupil of Woodhouse School, met David while they were both studying at university in Rhyl, North Wales and decided to marry in the groom’s home city of Liverpool.
The family all travelled on Friday night and booked transport on Saturday afternoon, thinking ahead because of the Liverpool v Chelsea Premier League match.
Lorraine, 52, from Stonydelph, recalled: “The plan was to get there on Friday night and do the whole Beatles tour before having a takeaway but the M6 was closed and it took me six hours to get from Tamworth to Liverpool, so that didn’t go to plan.
“We had arranged a driver for 2.45pm on Saturday. Even though the wedding didn’t start until 4pm none of us knew where we were going and Liverpool were playing Chelsea, so we knew the roads and the area was going to be busy.
“There were 10 of us so we used two vehicles from a number we found online. I went in the first one, as I need a walking stick, so I thought it was best for me not to go in a people carrier.
“My nephew had a big storage box which was full of wedding presents, photos and money and he had it on his knee. The driver took it off him and put it in the boot.
“But as soon as he dropped us off, he sped off.”
She continued: “He dropped us off at 3.15pm and the wedding started at 4 so we had to go straight in.
“Afterwards, between me and my sister, we made 27 calls to try to track the driver down, right up to 8pm.
“I was exhausted and just felt like I was getting nowhere and in the end we went to the police.”
Lorraine had travelled with her sister Sam, also from Stonydelph, nephew Ben and his girlfriend, brother Keith and his wife Jan, both from Stonydelph too, cousin Helen and Auntie Kath and partner Harry.
“We had all put in £40 and converted it into US dollars for their honeymoon to Disneyland Florida. There was £340 in total,” she said.
“It was a Disney-themed wedding so we had Minnie and Mickey Mouse toys ready to go on their table. We had tea cups and cards that I had hand made.
“There were also lots of sentimental photos of our grandparents who are no longer here. My sister Karen didn’t like pictures of herself when she was younger so she got rid of any picture she could get her hands on. We didn’t have many left and now they have gone.
“We think everything is probably in a dumpster now and he will have made off with our money.
“Fortunately, the honeymoon was already all paid for and it is all inclusive so they flew out on Tuesday.”
The incident has been reported to police who are now investigating.
A spokesman confirmed: “Merseyside Police is investigating following a report that a number of items were taken in Liverpool city centre.
“A report was received that a group of people booked to travel from Boaler Street to St George’s Hall at around 2.45pm on Saturday.
“Items including cash, a red clutch bag, Mickey Mouse teddies and ceramic hearts were placed in the boot of the vehicle but when the passengers left the vehicle, the car was driven away with the gifts still in the car.
“Enquires into this matter are ongoing.
Login
Register
FAQ
