Ever been had?

It was a warm spring evening, and we were on a rare mid-week trip to the theatre. Just as we finished parking the car, a man knocked on the window.

He was acutely embarrassed, he said. Never had to ask anyone this before. His car, over there, had been clamped, and he had left his credit cards at home. He only needed £6.50 to make up the fine. “Daft, isn't it? I just got out to get some flowers for my wife's birthday. Five minutes later it would have been legal to park on that line anyway.”

We knew this was …