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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'Mole man's' £300,000 repair bill | 'Mole man's' £300,000 repair bill |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A pensioner who created a labyrinth of tunnels under his house over 40 years has been forced to pay £300,000 for repairs carried out by a council. | A pensioner who created a labyrinth of tunnels under his house over 40 years has been forced to pay £300,000 for repairs carried out by a council. |
| Excavations by William Lyttle, 77, who is also known as the "mole man", almost caused the property in Mortimer Road, Hackney, east London, to collapse. | |
| Hackney council evicted him in 2006 to allow work to stabilise the house. | Hackney council evicted him in 2006 to allow work to stabilise the house. |
| The High Court ordered him to pay the amount within 14 days or the property could be sold to pay the bill. | The High Court ordered him to pay the amount within 14 days or the property could be sold to pay the bill. |
| It is understood Mr Lyttle inherited the 20-room four-storey detached property from his parents. | It is understood Mr Lyttle inherited the 20-room four-storey detached property from his parents. |
| The house, which is dilapidated, could be worth more than £1m if renovated. | The house, which is dilapidated, could be worth more than £1m if renovated. |
| Public danger | Public danger |
| On Monday the High Court also extended an order which bans Mr Lyttle from going near the property to ensure he does not damage the restoration work. | On Monday the High Court also extended an order which bans Mr Lyttle from going near the property to ensure he does not damage the restoration work. |
| Since he was evicted he has been living in temporary council accommodation. | Since he was evicted he has been living in temporary council accommodation. |
| In 2001, his digging led to a 15ft-wide hole in the public footpath. | In 2001, his digging led to a 15ft-wide hole in the public footpath. |
| Fiona Fletcher-Smith, of Hackney Council, said: "Mr Lyttle's actions had led to his home becoming a danger to himself and to the general public. | Fiona Fletcher-Smith, of Hackney Council, said: "Mr Lyttle's actions had led to his home becoming a danger to himself and to the general public. |
| William Lyttle has been banned from going near the house | William Lyttle has been banned from going near the house |
| "Making the property safe is a matter which has incurred considerable expense to the Hackney taxpayer over a number of years, and we are extremely pleased that the court has agreed we should be able to recoup the cost." | "Making the property safe is a matter which has incurred considerable expense to the Hackney taxpayer over a number of years, and we are extremely pleased that the court has agreed we should be able to recoup the cost." |
| Following the order, neighbour Dean Dawson said: "The council has been pussy-footing around him for years. | Following the order, neighbour Dean Dawson said: "The council has been pussy-footing around him for years. |
| "They would just check that any work he did had the right planning permission. There has been a distinct lack of action. | "They would just check that any work he did had the right planning permission. There has been a distinct lack of action. |
| "I've got every sympathy with him (Mr Lyttle). He's just a bit eccentric and a bit of a recluse. | "I've got every sympathy with him (Mr Lyttle). He's just a bit eccentric and a bit of a recluse. |
| "But it does grate on residents when they're told to take down satellite dishes and you just look across the road at all that he's got away with." | "But it does grate on residents when they're told to take down satellite dishes and you just look across the road at all that he's got away with." |