A man has been left homeless and forced to sleep in the local woods after the council confiscated his motorhome while he was out at the shops.

Jonathan Golding, 31, claims he parked his vehicle on Ashbrow Road in the Fartown area of Huddersfield, after it developed engine issues while he was on the way to visit a friend in mid-November.

The Volvo coach, which is 33 feet long and 30-years-old, had been converted into a motorhome that he lives in – with it’s own bathroom, double bed, seating area and even an oven.

He ordered a car part from Sweden, which took its time to arrive, and had also noticed a flat battery that he claims he was about to replace.

However, once he returned from the shops on Monday January 22, he discovered his motorhome had been taken away by Kirklees Council.

Jonathan Golding, 31, claims he parked his vehicle on Ashbrow Road in the Fartown area, after it developed engine issues while he was on the way to visit a friend in mid-November

Jonathan, who is unemployed, told Yorkshire Live: ‘I have been homeless for years and sofa surfing. In November I thought ‘why not get a motorhome’ which would save me stress, and money.

‘It was my home. I didn’t want to believe it. I had been in contact with them and they knew the situation. They just went ahead and took it. It was my home. I thought I was getting somewhere.

‘The worst thing is the council knew that by taking it that they would be taking my home. The council knew they would make me homeless.’

He says he was ‘devastated’ as it had his personal possessions and clothes inside. 

The 31-year-old claims he told the council about his difficult circumstances after they had previously instructed him to move the vehicle.

He said he explained to the local authority that he was living in the motor home and in the process of getting it fixed – it was not ‘abandoned’.

Jonathan was forced to spend a couple of nights in the local woods, before being taken in by a friend in Dewsbury.

He’s been told that it will set him back £384 and an additional £20 per day to get his motorhome back and has been given the deadline of Friday February 2 to pay – he owes around £600 already. 

The Volvo coach, which is 33 feet long and 30-years-old, had been converted into a motorhome that he lives in – with it’s own bathroom, double bed, seating area and even an oven

According to the council, the motorhome was not taxed and without a valid MOT. 

In a letter to the Huddersfield resident, obtained by Yorkshire Live, Kirklees Council explained why it had taken the vehicle.

It read: ‘Kirklees Council has written to you on 4th December 2023 and served noticed on you on the 14th December requiring removal of the vehicle within 15 days.

‘Despite numerous attempts to engage with you about the removal you failed to remove the vehicle and on Monday 22nd January 2024 the vehicle was removed by our recovery agents. 

‘As discussed on the phone to yourself and via email, you can recover the vehicle from Teale’s Garage, Leeds Road, Mirfield. 

‘If you wish to recover the vehicle a payment as of Tuesday 23rd January 2024 would be £384 plus and additional £20 per day for storage to be paid by yourself.

‘You have 10 days as of Tuesday 23rd January 2024 that being Friday 2nd February 2024 to recover the vehicle.

‘If you are to recover your vehicle it must not be stored on the public highway and must be kept on private property, a drive or in a garage.

‘If the vehicle is to be kept on the highway after you recover it, Kirklees Council will consider further enforcement action.’

A spokesperson for Kirklees Council added: ‘The safety of residents and commuters on our road network is a top priority for the council. 

‘Last week, officers legally removed a large coach, which had been parked on the highway in Fartown for some time, after first being made aware of it in November 2023’.

It comes just after another man claimed he has been made homeless after his campervan was seized while he was sleeping inside.

James Brogan, 37, from Leek in Staffordshire, was fast asleep while stationed in a car park when DVLA officers clamped his vehicle.

The father-of-one said he was in his underwear as bailiffs confiscated the VW camper, which had no insurance, tax, or MOT.

Mr Brogan refused to leave his vehicle and clashed with the DVLA enforcement team before he was later arrested by cops.

The professional comedian, who was later released without charge, claims the seizing of his van has been one of ‘the worst’ times in his life.