Man loses multiple unregistered vintage vehicles he parked on street for years

This is the moment a car lover’s illegal collection of vintage cars, including a 1968 Gran Torino, was seized after blocking up a Frankston street for many years. WATCH THE VIDEO

A foul-mouthed car lover who clogged a Frankston street for years with his illegal vehicle collection has lost them for good, and also copped a hefty fine.

Frankston man Paul Hem, 38, shouted at police and Frankston Council officers as the 15 unregistered vehicles lining Douglas Grove were loaded onto tow trucks on August 19.

Hem, whose vehicles included 1968 Ford Gran Torino, a GT sports car, a large excavator, a bus and a fibreglass boat on a trailer, all sprawled across the roadway and footpath, filmed himself shouting at officers as eight tow trucks removed his prized possessions.

Council officers removed more than a dozen vehicles from the cluttered street.

His partner also parked her car on a right angle across the street in an attempt to stop the trucks from leaving.

In a video posted to his own Facebook account, Hem can be seen pacing up and down the street and calling council prosecutor Bruce Gardiner a “f---ing dog and fat c---”.

Hem’s case was listed at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on October 10, but he didn’t appear and the matter was heard in his absence.

Outside court Mr Gardiner said the council was alerted to the collection by members of the public who could not use the roadway properly.

He said Hem, who was believed to be living inside a factory on the street, had been warned to register his vehicles several times over a number of years.

Cars seized included vintage sports vehicles and a black limousine.

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“Most of these vehicles were placed along the sides of the road with about seven of them occupying the turning bowl of the street … this caused an obstruction of the roadway

preventing all traffic movements from occurring,” Mr Gardiner said.

“One of the vehicles was parked across a footpath outside of the factory and prevented access by pedestrians to the footpath.”

At one point during the five-hour removal process, Mr Hem’s out-of-control American bulldog escaped from the factory and started running along the road.

Hem was convicted for use of unregistered vehicle on highway, indecent language, insulting words, offensive behaviour and parking offences and fined $2500.

The vehicles will be made available for purchase via the Frankston Council website.

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