A first-time driver has spoken of his shock after being slapped with an angry note by a heavily pregnant woman who branded him a ‘b***end’ – despite dumping her car on the parking line.
William Smith-Devoy, 17, was forced to park to the right-hand side of the bay after the blue Peugeot 107 had parked on the line of his space at Cheshire Oaks in Merseyside on Tuesday.
Having already circled the carpark three times ahead of his shift, Mr Smith-Devoy decided to squeeze his silver Vauxhall Astra into the compact space.
Concerned that the Peugeot may scratch his car, the computing student took a photo of his car and the neighbouring car’s registration plate before leaving to start an eight-hour shift at McDonald’s.
William Smith-Devoy, 17, was forced to park his silver Vauxhall to the right of this blue Peugeot in a shopping centre car park. But when he returned he found a rude note on his windscreen
The heavily pregnant woman scratched Mr Smith-Devoy’s car – then left him a letter branding him a ‘b******’
However when Mr Smith-Devoy returned to his car he was horrified to discover the foul-mouthed note on his windscreen and scratches on his car.
Mr Smith-Devoy, from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, said: ‘I was upset and shocked at what happened.
‘I parked in the space at around 12pm and the whole area was packed.
‘The blue car had parked really close to my bay with both right wheels on the line.
‘It took me two attempts to get the car in and I called my dad because I was worried the blue car might damage mine when the car’s owner got in.
‘I took some pictures and got the registration plate just in case anything happened.
‘I left my shift at 8.30pm and only noticed the note as I reversed out of the space to drive home.
‘My wing mirror had also been knocked inwards and there was some scratches on the car.’
Mr Smith-Devoy only passed his driving test a few weeks ago and was left stunned by the note
The note read: ‘Thanks for parking like a b******!
‘I’m nine months pregnant and had to get someone to move my car.’
Stunned Mr Smith-Devoy, who only passed his driving test a few weeks ago, showed the note to his parents when he returned home.
He said: ‘My mum was irritated by it. She said it was quite cheeky and I thought it was wrong for the driver to bring the fact she was pregnant into this.
‘It’s a situation where I’d done nothing wrong.
‘I parked in the bay with spaces on both sides, the woman parked very close to mine and accused me of bad parking.
‘I don’t understand why she – I assume it’s a woman but they could have made the pregnancy bit up – thinks I’m in the wrong.
‘Because of the way she parked it took me two attempts to get in the space. I would have found another space but it was so busy and I had already driven around three times to find one.
‘I’m glad my dad told me to take pictures because I have proof of how the car was parked next to me and without them it’s my word against hers.’
Opinion over who was in the wrong has been divided online.
One motorist said: ‘He was correctly parked, how else was he to park. Think about it. He had EVERY RIGHT to park where he did.
‘It’s not a case having a RIGHT to block her in, she caused the problem in the first place! Enough said.’
Another commented: ‘He parked his car properly, she didn’t. He did nothing wrong whether he knew the gap was small or not.’
But not everyone was on Mr Smith-Devoy’s side.
One social media user said: ‘Why park in a space that is clearly too narrow? Poor parking from previous driver but why park so close to another car? Pot calling the kettle black.’
The note read: ‘Thanks for parking like a b******! ‘I’m nine months pregnant and had to get someone to move my car’
The teenager, who passed his test on his third attempt, is now worried about parking in bays in the future in case he is accused of parking badly again.
He said: ‘Even though I’ve only been driving for a few weeks I have already seen how drivers can act.
‘I can see myself taking photos when I park my car in the future because I’m worried drivers might try and manipulate things.
‘When I got there the car on the other side of her was parked in its bay fine, however I don’t know if that car was there when the Peugeot arrived.’
The student said he enjoyed driving and it gives him freedom.
He said: ‘Eventually I found it quite funny that someone could react like this.
‘I put it on social media and lots of people agree the other car is in the wrong.’
Mr Smith-Devoy’s father, Gary Smith, 57,slammed the pregnat woman.
He said: ‘It’s annoying and there’s absolutely no need to swear in a situation like this.
‘Despite only passing his test a few weeks ago, Will is a very good driver.
‘He’s got a couple of scratches on his car. We need to make people aware of parking badly because it can cause damage.
‘I remember when he got his car – he was over the moon, he’s always been so careful in it.’
Cheshire Oaks was approached for comment.