This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-34768403
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Hidden castle' builder given suspended prison sentence | 'Hidden castle' builder given suspended prison sentence |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A farmer who built a mock-Tudor castle and hid it behind a huge stack of hay bales has been given a three-month suspended prison sentence. | |
| Robert Fidler, 66, built the four-bedroom home near Redhill in Surrey in 2000 without planning permission. | |
| Reigate and Banstead Borough Council argued he was in contempt of court for not complying with enforcement notices. | |
| A High Court judge agreed, saying he would be jailed for his "defiance" if the property is not demolished by June. | |
| Mr Fidler has told Mr Justice Dove that he had sold the house at Honeycrock Farm in Salfords to an Indian businessman and that the injunction ordering demolition was invalid. | Mr Fidler has told Mr Justice Dove that he had sold the house at Honeycrock Farm in Salfords to an Indian businessman and that the injunction ordering demolition was invalid. |
| The house was built on greenbelt land and Reigate and Banstead Borough Council first ordered its demolition in 2007. | |
| In 2008, Mr Fidler said he hid the "castle" because he believed a house that stood for four years without objection had a legal right to remain. | In 2008, Mr Fidler said he hid the "castle" because he believed a house that stood for four years without objection had a legal right to remain. |
| The council began contempt of court proceedings after he failed to comply with the outstanding enforcement notices and an order that required demolition. | |
| Mr Justice Dove said Mr Fidler would be jailed for three months for his "intentional defiance" unless he complied with the order by 6 June. | |
| A spokeswoman for Reigate and Banstead Borough Council said: "This is a situation of Mr Fidler's own making. He has had plenty of opportunity to comply with the outstanding enforcement notices. | |
| "Mr Fidler can be in no doubt that the judge's expectation is for the house to be demolished and all the enforcement notices be complied with in their entirety before 6 June 2016." |