A motorist who persisted with a 20 month fight over a £60 parking ticket has ended up with a legal bill of £7,500 - and lost his case.

Ryan Jones, 20, from Cardiff, went to magistrates court 13 times and crown court twice before admitting defeat.

As well as the £60 fine and £150 prosecution costs for the ticket issued in Cowbridge in February 2005 he has the huge bill from his solicitor.

But Mr Williams said: "People might think I'm mad but I don't regret it."

The clerical officer with Cardiff council added: "I was determined to try to prove my innocence however much it cost.

"I could not get legal aid because it was such a minor matter but I was determined to fight."

The saga started when he dropped off a passenger in the main street in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan.

A police officer spotted Mr Williams, who earns £280 a week, and reported him for illegally parking on zig-zag lines near a zebra crossing.

But when he was handed a fixed penalty fine, Mr Williams denied being on the lines and his marathon fight began.

During the next 18 months Mr Williams appeared before Barry magistrates 13 times, taking a day's annual leave each time.

The hearing was adjourned for a number of reasons - including missing witnesses, unavailable courtrooms for a full hearing and insufficient time to hear the case.

He was eventually found guilty and ordered to pay the fine but Mr Williams appealed and made two more appearances at Cardiff Crown Court before conceding defeat.

He said: "I stopped for a few seconds to drop off a passenger. I was near the zig zag lines of a pedestrian crossing but I did not stop on them as the police alleged.

"I was so incensed at the injustice of it that I was determined to fight it all the way.

"I was disappointed to lose and it has cost me a lot but now I'm hoping to come to some sort of arrangement with my solicitor to pay the money."

Solicitor Anthony O'Callaghan who is planning to meet Mr Williams to make arrangements for payment said: "He was absolutely adamant at all times that he wanted to fight the case.

"I explained to him how much it was costing but he wanted to fight it all the way.

"It should have been dealt with in two or three court appearances and I never imagined in my wildest nightmares it would take so long.

"I feel an enormous amount of sympathy for Ryan - his point of principle has cost him dearly."

A South Wales police spokesman said: "As far as we are concerned we were responsible for only one adjournment when one of the officers was on annual leave."