A father claims he has been left homeless after his camper van 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 detained his vehicle.
The father-of-one said he was in his underwear when bailiffs seized 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 police.
The professional comedian, who was later released without charge, claims the seizure of his van was one of the “worst” times of his life.
He told MailOnline: 'Some random person has gone through all my belongings, my mother's ashes are still in the van and are now being auctioned.'
James Brogan, 37, from Leek in Staffordshire, was fast asleep while standing in a car park when the DVLA's enforcement partner, NSL, moved in and clamped the vehicle.
James captured the moment Staffordshire Police arrived to arrest him for refusing to leave his van, before the vehicle was towed by the DVLA and taken to a compound for auction
The initial amount Mr Brogan, who has Universal Credit, had to pay to get his car back was £270, but the bill has since risen to £500, with the amount owed increasing every day.
However, the paperwork needed to release the van, including his driver's license, remains inside and will be auctioned within a month.
Now the dad is couch surfing as he struggles to get his van free before time runs out.
Mr Brogan has reportedly tried to contact the DVLA directly but has been unable to verify his identity because he 'can't tax over the phone' and all his belongings, including identification, are 'in the van'.
He said, 'I feel the lowest of the low. Something like this has never happened before.
“It was 11am the morning it happened. I do comedy gigs in the evenings so I was still asleep when the DVLA clamped down on my van.”
Mr Brogan, father of a seven-year-old son with autism, added: 'My son is absolutely devastated. He likes the van because it is bright green. During the holidays we take it fishing and camping.
'This year I didn't get to see my son for Christmas. I normally park my van in front of my ex-wife's house every Christmas so I can be near him on the big day.'
The paperwork needed to release the van – such as James' driver's license and other documentation – will remain in the vehicle, which will be auctioned within a month.
The VW van was towed away to a compound in Newcastle-under-Lyme after it was found to have no insurance, tax or MOT
James, father of a seven-year-old son with autism, added: “My son is absolutely devastated. We take it fishing and camping during the holidays'
Mr Brogan explained that he bought the van after his divorce from his son's mother was finalised, using some of the inheritance money he received after his mother's death.
Having previously worked as an electrician before falling into a deep depression, he said: 'I don't live in a van for my own comfort or benefit – I would love to live in a house but I can't afford one.
'I had to make a lot of sacrifices to be able to live in a van. I get my food from the food bank and I live on £300 a month while promoting myself as a comedian.'
However, thanks to a number of MPs and a member of the local parliament, Mr Brogan has managed to obtain a 30-day grace period to postpone the auction, but he is still unsure how he will get his belongings and documents back.
When asked if he could approach the DVLA directly for help, he said: “They don't have an outline.
'There's a picture of me on my driver's license. Surely it can be sent to the compound by the DVLA so that my personal items can be released?'
The comedian, whose other belongings in the van include drills, a laptop, camera and clothes, added: 'I didn't pay for the things [tax and insurance]Okay, fair enough, just clamp it down and take it away – but don't stop me from grabbing my personal belongings.'
Speaking about the likelihood of him buying another van, Mr Brogan, who is aiming to set up a comedy club in Leek, said: 'I would definitely buy another van in the future once I have some money in my pocket but I have I just don't. it right now.'
MailOnline has contacted Staffordshire Police and the DVLA for further comment.
A Lancashire man recently had his vehicle seized by police – after he was caught driving on the motorway some 60 years after failing his test.
Lancashire Police yesterday ordered a silver Citroen to stop on the M55 near Preston, only to discover the driver had never obtained a full driving license after failing the test in the 1960s.