This is the moment a stubborn motorist claimed victory over the car clampers.

Birmingham doorman William O’Driscoll staged the sit-in protest by parking himself in the passenger seat of his Kia Sportage seconds after he saw it being towed away by clampers in the city centre.

He had parked on a single yellow line near to his flat in Blucher Street yesterday and returned just in time to see his vehicle being hoisted onto the tow truck.

As traffic formed around him, Mr O’Driscoll jumped in, contacted police and refused to move from his car until they arrived.

After an angry exchange with council officials and police officers, the tow truck placed his car back in its parking space and drove away.

Birmingham City Council said today an “understanding” had been made between the tow truck driver and Mr O’Driscoll.

Mr O’Driscoll, aged 28, also received a parking fine for parking partly on a single yellow line.

He says he is willing to pay the standard fine, but may take further action against the council for unlawfully towing his car away.

He said: “I had parked around two or three feet over a yellow line and when I came back to my car all of a sudden the tow truck had pulled up.

“I came out my flat only to see my car two feet off the ground.

“After pressing the alarm to unlock the doors, I jumped in the passenger seat, but they just kept lifting the car up. I have parked on this road since I lived in the city centre and it has never been a problem before.

“A lot of witnesses saw what happened and I know it’s something that can’t be done.

“They left me with a graze on my leg too which was caused as they lifted the car with me trying to get into it.

“I asked the driver not to lift the car any further but he carried on anyway.

“I have picked up a few normal parking tickets in my time just through oversleeping, but I have never been treated like this before.”

Birmingham City Council spokesman Kris Kowalewski said the private vehicle towing firm had come to an understanding with the driver and judged the case individually. He said:

“The motorist in this case was partially parked over a yellow line at a time that is not permitted.

“This means he was issued with a parking ticket.

“Because he returned as the car was being loaded onto the tow truck, the car was released and the towing fee was waived.

“He will however still need to pay the fine for being parked illegally.”

West Midlands Police spokesman Billy Corrigan said they had been called to the scene but added that no crime had been committed.

She said: “At 11.18am police were called to reports of a disorder on Blucher Street in the city centre.

“Reports suggested that a man had mounted a truck and was threatening staff from a private vehicle recovery company.

“Officers attended and defused the situation, and as no crime was committed no further police action was taken.”