Probe after £32,000 Lotus wrecked

The Lotus Exige was Dan Gould's "pride and joy"

A company director took his £32,000 sports car to be cleaned - and it quickly turned into a crumpled heap.

Dan Gould's Lotus Exige was found crashed into two stationary cars 30 minutes after he took it to a valet firm in Exeter.

A 30-year-old man has been reported for dangerous driving, and investigations are taking place into an alleged offence of unlawful vehicle taking.

The owner of the Master Valet firm declined to comment about the accident.

It was my little baby... I only took it out now and again Dan Gould

Mr Gould, 28, boss of Digi Security in Exeter, said he was "devastated" at the crash involving his "pride and joy".

"It was disastrous," he said.

"I was absolutely gutted when I saw it because of all the time and effort that's been put into it. It was my little baby. I only took it out now and again."

The car was being spruced up for a buyer, but the sale had now fallen through, he said.

He added that the buyer was "really upset" at what had happened to the Lotus.

The crash happened on 21 November at the Marsh Barton trading estate in Exeter.