In an exclusive footage obtained by the Daily Mail, a black Porsche 911 GT3 RS, valued at up to £300,000, was seen being impounded on a plush side road off Kensington High Street in west London. The luxury supercar, parked within yellow lines, had a yellow parking ticket lodged under its windscreen wiper, which the owner apparently ignored, leading to its removal.
High-Profile Tow in Kensington
A tow truck arrived at the scene, using a red crane to lift the vehicle onto its bed as passersby watched. Two men in high-visibility jackets guided the Porsche onto the truck before it was driven away to be impounded. The incident highlights the strict enforcement of parking regulations in London, even for high-net-worth individuals.
Owner Identified as Saudi Tycoon
The lavish Porsche is believed to be owned by Hassan Sharbatly, one of Saudi Arabia's wealthiest entrepreneurs and CEO of the Al Nahla group. As of 2021, this group held a billion-dollar share in Riyadh Bank. Specialising in real estate in Saudi Arabia, the company also has a foothold in the automotive sector, possibly fuelling Mr Sharbatly's passion for cars.
Mr Sharbatly is known for his extensive collection of expensive vehicles, with many spotted across London in recent years. His collection includes a Bugatti Chiron worth up to £3 million, a Lamborghini Sián valued at up to £2.6 million, a Ferrari SF90XX worth over £700,000, and a Ferrari 812 Competizione priced up to £500,000.
Location and Vehicle Details
The Porsche was parked just outside the celebrity hangout Roof Gardens, which recently caught fire after a blaze tore through the building overnight. The vehicle has previously appeared in supercar appreciation posts on Instagram, wrapped in a slightly different grey and black design. Capable of reaching speeds up to 184 mph, it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds.
Record Parking Fines in the UK
This incident occurs amid a backdrop of soaring parking fines in the UK. In January, it was revealed that motorists paid a record £782 million in parking fines to councils last year—an increase of £160 million from the previous 12 months. This equates to 1,500 motorists per hour being hit with fines, averaging £60 but potentially rising to £160, or more than 35,000 tickets daily.
Council Strategies and Revenue
The sharp rise in fines is attributed to many councils increasing penalty levels and expanding parking control zones. Additionally, numerous councils have withdrawn pay-and-display machines in favour of parking apps, citing cost savings from reduced theft risk and avoiding machine upgrades.
Much of this record revenue was collected by councils in London, where fines increased by £30 up to £160 last year, and other major cities. The top 16 councils for parking ticket income were all in the capital, with Westminster in central London raking in nearly £50 million from tickets alone.
This enforcement crackdown underscores the growing financial burden on drivers, even affecting affluent individuals like Mr Sharbatly, whose high-value assets are not exempt from local regulations.
