Learner drivers have taken action against a driving instructor after they say they paid hundreds of pounds for lessons they did not receive.
Julie Morris' grandson Kian, 19, was eager to get his driver's licence after battling cancer as a teenager and struggling with autism.
They signed him up for lessons with Clear Pass School of Motoring, led by Stuart Giles.
But Kian's dream of getting on the road hit the brakes after they say the lessons never materialised.
Mrs Morris said: "We made our last payment in July, paid £350, but Kian has not had any lessons.
"Out of nowhere, we can't reach him. I have heard from other learners, they never got the lessons they had paid for."
In a message seen by the Gazette, the owner states ill health as the reason for the closure, saying, "I will do my very best to get everyone refunded their hours that are left, but this will take time."
Mrs Morris said: "All these young people who work hard on their weekends to pay for driving lessons are left alone. It feels like innocent teenagers were taken advantage of, especially Kian, with everything he went through."
A spokesperson for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) confirmed on request of the Gazette Mr Giles is not on the registry as a practising instructor.
Chris Allsopp, 25, was also a student under Mr Giles and has now taken action against him.
He said: "He constantly cancelled lessons. I had about 15 lessons booked, but only got two or three lessons in the end.
"I had a dispute with him about a refund, which I never got. I looked for a different instructor, and after I had failed my test, Stuart got in touch and he promised to get me the results.
"I think I have spent around £700. I know he asked to be paid in cash, which I refused to do.
"I had my exam scheduled for November 11, and now I don't know what is going to happen."
Chris contacted Citizens Advice, through which he made a complaint to Trading Standards.
A spokesperson for Essex Trading Standards said: "We are not able to reveal details about any specific investigations, however, all complaints received are monitored by the Trading Standards team.
"Trading Standards is an intelligence-led service which uses information to focus our resources. We therefore encourage members of the public to report any concerns by calling Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133."
Pam Cox MP, Member of Parliament for Colchester, said: "I am deeply concerned to hear about the experiences of learners affected by Clear Pass School of Motoring.
"Young people and families invest significant time and money into driving lessons, and they rightly expect professionalism, transparency, and reliability in return.
"It is unacceptable that individuals appear to have been left out of pocket, with no clear route to recourse.
"I urge anyone affected to contact Citizens Advice Colchester, who can offer guidance on consumer rights and potential avenues for recovering lost funds, including alerting Trading Standards.
"This situation highlights the importance of ensuring that businesses operating in our city meet high standards of accountability.
"I will be investigating this issue further to explore what more can be done to protect consumers and prevent similar cases in future.
"My thoughts are with those impacted, and I thank the residents who have come forward to share their stories."
The Gazette has contacted Mr Giles on several occasions over the last five days but has not received an answer.