The driver sustained £86.40 of damage to his vehicle when he hit a 70mm-deep pothole in Blackthorn near Bicester on November 22, 2025.

The pothole, which is outside Malvern Cottage on Station Road, was hidden under floodwater caused by blocked drains.

Oxfordshire County Council has apologised for an error and the authority said steps have been taken to ensure it is not repeated.

The motorist Matthew Kitchen said: “On November 22, I was driving through Blackthorn when my car struck a massive pothole outside Malvern Cottage.

“It was raining, and because the council had failed to clear the drains, despite reports of them being blocked for months, the road was flooded.

“The water acted as a mask, making the 70mm deep hole a ‘hidden trap’ for any unsuspecting driver.”

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After claiming for the cost of repairs, the 20-year-old received a standard rejection letter from the council, which stated it had no prior knowledge of the pothole and had met its legal obligations through routine inspections.

Unconvinced, the driver made an Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) request and discovered the council had been notified of the pothole on November 19, three days before his incident.

The pothole was also sent to the website FixMyStreet multiple times in the run up to Mr Kitchen’s accident.

The pothole Matthew Kitchen hit (Image: Matthew Kitchen)

The pothole was recorded as a “valid defect” and later measured at 70mm deep.

Oxfordshire County Council policy classifies defects over 40mm as a hazard requiring urgent repair.

Records also showed the council had been informed of blocked drains at the same location a month earlier, but no action had been taken.

Armed with this evidence, the driver challenged the council’s decision, pointing out its failure to act.

He said: “If I hadn’t filed that FOI request, they would have gotten away with it.

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“This isn’t just about £60. It’s about the fact that the council is using ‘standard denials’ to avoid paying for damage caused by their own documented negligence.”

 Mark Morrell, otherwise known as ‘Mr Pothole’ said: “The potholes in Oxfordshire are some of the worst in the country due to decades of disappointment from the council.

“The fact of the matter is they simply just aren’t doing their job properly anymore; there isn’t any money or resources for the council to do better.”

The renowned pothole campaigner has formally complained about the dangerous condition of Hook Norton Road in Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council said: “The claim was initially turned down on the grounds that the council had taken reasonable action in respect of the pre-accident pothole report at this location.

“Following receipt of correspondence from Mr Kitchen, a full claim review was undertaken at which stage a settlement offer was made to him as it appeared an additional report was overlooked during the initial investigation.

“We apologise for this error and have taken steps to ensure that this is not repeated.”

Thames Valley Police said that the man has been taken into custody following the arrest today, Tuesday, April 21.

A spokesperson for the rural crime unit said: “It’s been a busy shift for PC Little and PC Carney-Smith.

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“Starting off by assisting the LCU (Local Command Unit) with a domestic assault in Oxford. A male was arrested and is awaiting interview in custody .”

Supporting the mounted section in Lambourn (Image: TVP)

The unit were also involved in several other notable activities today across the Thames Valley area, including supporting a woman by the side of the road they suspected of having a “medical episode”.

In addition the rural crime team assisted the mounted section in Lambourn on an operation educating motorists about road safety near horses.

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The spokesperson added: “Then while driving towards Wantage, they were flagged down by two members of the public for a female who was found in the verge with a push bike on a busy road.

“It is suspected she had a medical episode and was taken to hospital.

“Then they assisted our colleagues from Roads Policing and the Mounted Section in Lambourn on an operation educating drivers on road safety in the vicinity of horses.”

Thames Valley Police have launched an official appeal to look for a missing 16-year-old boy from West Oxfordshire, who was reported missing yesterday (Monday, April 20) at 10pm.

Police said that Cody was last seen in Witney and is also known to frequent Oxford.

When last seen, he was wearing a black jacket, white t-shirt and grey tracksuit bottoms.

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The force asks that anyone who has any information should get in touch as soon as possible.

Cody, 16, from Witney (Image: TVP)

A spokesperson for the police said: “Help us find Cody, 16, missing from West Oxfordshire. Last seen 10pm yesterday in Witney.

“Cody was last seen wearing a black jacket, white T-shirt, and grey tracksuit bottoms. He is known to frequent Witney and Oxford.

” If seen, call 999 quoting 43260193403.”