Shropshire businessman's dream supercar rally ends in Swiss prison hell
A Shropshire businessman is one of three men arrested during a car rally across Europe who have been locked up for almost eight weeks without charge.
Father-of-three David Bentley, 49, from Bridgnorth, runs office design and refurbishment company Future Contracts Ltd with his family in Shifnal.
Mr Bentley, Adrian Harrold and Julian Wilson were driving across Switzerland in their £90,000 Nissan GT-Rs when police arrested them.
The trio have since been detained in a Swiss jail for alleged driving offences and had their sports cars confiscated, forcing them away from their worried loved ones in England.
One of Mr Bentley's daughters was forced to cancel her wedding after discovering her father would not be able to walk her down the aisle.
Speaking on Facebook, rally organiser James Cannon said the men were 'innocent' but remained in the Swiss jail, facing charges for 'minor driving offences'.
He added: "They are respectable polite family men who were driving with their wives."
The men were taking part in The Cannon Run's tour from Maidstone to Monaco when they were arrested just outside the Swiss city of Zurich on June 4.
Mr Harrold's daughter Katrina, who is in her 20s, said her family was 'deeply upset' but did not wish to comment further at this time.
Her 45-year-old father, from Wolverhampton, is the managing director of Willenhall-based business Manifestation Designs & Signs Limited.
His wife Tina was also arrested during the driving holiday, strip-searched and held for five days without charge before being released, along with Mr Wilson's wife Andrea, Mr Cannon said.
Mr Wilson, 40, is from Newark, Nottinghamshire, and has two teenage children.
Organiser Mr Cannon is now urging people to lend their support to an online fundraising appeal for the trio, with cash going towards 'ongoing costs' for their families.
He added: "The charges they are facing are - following too closely together in convoy, crossing a white line after nearly missing their junction on the motorway and a very small speeding issue which was only a little over.
"Even though The Cannon Run took every opportunity to make our clients aware of the harsh Swiss laws and consequences, unfortunately these three family men have been caught up in a very harsh situation, which in the UK would of been a slap on the wrist.
"We are making every effort to support the families of the gentlemen in question."
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson confirmed it was assisting the men, adding: "We are providing support to their families and remain in contact with the Swiss authorities."
Zurich prosecutors said the men would remain in custody until the investigation into the alleged traffic violation was complete.
See justgiving.com/crowdfunding/s-bentley
