I was involved in a fatal accident with a pedestrian in 2008. I was not at fault and no prosecution was brought against me, however, my car was taken for examination and rightly so. I was self-employed at the time and my car was and is essential for my work, which I explained to the arresting officer. The vehicle was examined two days after the event, with wear to the front tyres and one front tyre found to be under the correct pressure.

I attended the police station with my solicitor on the evening of the inspection, my solicitor advising me to make a no-comment statement as the accident report had not been finished. I was told later by a police inspector that because I'd taken my solicitors advice, the police considered it a "lack of co-operation" and so they retained my car for just under three and half months, in which time I'd lost my clients, spent over £2000 on legal fees and was (and still am) in danger of losing our home.

When we threatened civil action to get the car back the police made it a scene of crime and retained it even longer. The CPS rejected the case and I believe the police knew that that would be the outcome. Therefore I believe their acts were malicious and intended to put financial pressure on me to achieve what they wanted; a conviction. I have been unemployed since April 2009 and quite frankly we are destitute, and yet the government, the IPCC and the legal services do not want to know. My solicitor wants £1000 just to lodge a hearing through the civil courts, which we just don't have and yet I was arrested and in effect tried, found guilty and sentenced to a life of hardship without a prosecution or attending a court. Can you help or advise me?