A notorious car park owner labelled “Dick Turpin” because of the reputation of his wheel-clamping operation is now trying to play the role of Robin Hood.

Victims of Ted Evans’ clamping firm will be astounded at his claim.

Mr Evans was branded with the “Dick Turpin” nickname in 2003 by the RAC Foundation looking for the clamper with the worst reputation in the country. But Mr Evans, of Haworth, says he wants to show he actually has a soft-heart.

So he has had several hundred T-shirts printed which he believes will amuse visitors to Haworth and raise cash for needy people at the same time.

He hopes to use his notoriety to encourage visitors to his Changegate car park to lay out £7.50 per shirt, with the profit going to Bradford Day Shelter, run by Horton Housing Association in Edmond Street.

And Mr Evans is to send one of the shirts to the former no-nonsense Speaker of the House of Commons, Baroness Betty Boothroyd.

She raised the clamping issue in the House of Lords revealing how she fell victim to Mr Evans’ company when her friend’s car was clamped in Haworth recently. They had paid for a ticket to park at Changegate but it had fallen upside down and they were clamped.

She will receive a T-shirt emblazoned with a forlorn Santa Claus wheel clamped on his sleigh. He is saying: “Sorry, kids, Santa can’t come, he’s forgotten to pay and display at Haworth.”

The other T-shirt on offer has Dick Turpin’s tricorn hat, mask and crossed pistols with the epithet: “You didn’t get me, I paid and displayed.”

Mr Evans said: “I was so moved when I recently saw a presentation of the work of the Bradford Day Shelter I felt I had to do something to help. I’m hoping to turn something negative – the Dick Turpin award – into something positive and beneficial at Christmas time.

“It is upsetting to be seen as a hard person when I’m not.”

One of the first to buy a shirt was 35-year-old Nicola Nelson, of Haworth, who wore it when taking her daughter Ellie to Haworth primary school.

She said: “I thought it was funny, tongue in cheek, but also a lovely gesture from Mr Evans. There is a side people don’t know about – he allows parents taking their children to and from school to use the car park free of charge.”

Mr Evans has run a car park in Haworth for 20 years and has received numerous complaints over the clamping policy. He said: “The rules are very clear and we don’t do anything we consider unfair.”

A spokesman for Horton Housing said: “Mr Evans has very kindly made a donation which will, in part, assist in the provision of food at the shelter over the Christmas period.”

Volunteers to work at the shelter over the Christmas and New Year period would be welcome and screenings of the film could be arranged by contacting Helen Searle on (01274) 370689.

Anyone wishing to make a donation should call the same number.