An accountant found himself chased by bailiffs for owing just five pounds on a Harrow Council traffic fine.

Arif Khan, 42, of Southgate, north London, accused the authority of "heavy handedness" after automatically selling on his meagre arrears to Rickmansworth-based debt recovery agency Newlyn, who ratcheted up the admin costs.

But after the intervention of the Harrow Observer, the council used its discretion to cancel the debt because the original disputed amount is so small.

The saga began on August 25 2008 when Mr Khan was caught by a camera making an illegal right turn from Gayton Road, Harrow, into Station Road and subsequently received a £60 fine through the post from the council.

He explained: "I was going through a hard time and I couldn't pay the bill there and then and by the time I did, the penalty had increased to £180. I paid it on November 26.

"On March 2, there was a note on my door from Newlyn saying I owed them £237.53."

A council customer services advisor explained he had owed a further £5 for 'court fees' and that since this amount had not been paid, the debt had been transferred to Newlyn to process.

Mr Khan said: "When I called to ask the council how come it was chasing me for £5, they said 'what would happen to the borough if we started writing off every £5?'

"I said, 'I'm happy to pay £5', but they said: 'No, you have to deal with the bailiffs'.

"If I could afford £180, why wouldn't I have paid £185?"

Crucially, Mr Khan denies having received either of the two follow-up council letters that would have arrived around the time he made the payment, and the following month.

A Harrow Council spokesman said: "Harrow Council uses an automated system to progress parking enforcement.

"Mr Khan ignored the Penalty Charge Notice and the matter was passed to bailiffs for recovery five months after it started.

"Mr Khan was sent letters at every stage of the enforcement process and was informed of the £180 charge and £5 court costs on November 25. He paid £180 on 28 November.

"A reminder was sent to his address on December 2, giving Mr Khan a further 14 days in which to pay the outstanding amount. This did not happen and Harrow Council passed the matter to bailiffs for recovery.

"While we make all attempts at cost recovery, once we were informed that the amount outstanding on his account was minimal, it was decided that as a gesture of goodwill we would not continue to chase the amount."