Newham LBC has vowed to retrieve the thousands of pounds it was forced to pay in damages to a disgruntled recipient of parking penalties. Z-Un Noon, of Tower Hamlets, east London, sued the borough for damages, claiming emotional distress after he was issued with four parking penalties in 2007, one of which was later dropped. He was awarded £20,000 – £5,000 for each penalty issued – in a judgement by default, because a council representative failed to appear at the hearing. At a High Court hearing, when the council had the opportunity to challenge the award, there was again, no representative from the local authority. And so bailiffs were sent to the council's East Ham parking shop to ensure the damages were paid to Mr Noon. The council claimed it never received the court summons and took the case to Bow County Court last month, asking for the original judgement to be set aside. The court ruled in the council's favour, ordering Mr Noon to repay the £27,566.83 the London borough was forced to pay him. But Mr Noon claims he has already spent the money and is unable to pay it back. However, the council is undeterred. A spokeswoman said: ‘Certainly, we will be looking to recover all the money.'