4th September 2008, 11:57 AM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/7596609.stm
Total cost to the owner: £450,000 repair bill, £40,000 fine and £8,000 court costs.
Judge David Wynn Morgan said: "When the press got hold of your story they described your treatment of one of the loveliest old houses in that part of Monmouthshire as if it were a property in the Footballers' Wives television series.
"It would be patronising of the court to endorse that judgment, but having seen what was planned I am bound to say the comparison is not inapt.
"Features that were intended to improve had been added without consideration or sympathy, rather like painting a moustache on an old master or adding a drum and bass track to music written by Mozart."
Looking through the case history it appears that the £40k was for breach of the enforcement notice served last year...
Total cost to the owner: £450,000 repair bill, £40,000 fine and £8,000 court costs.
Judge David Wynn Morgan said: "When the press got hold of your story they described your treatment of one of the loveliest old houses in that part of Monmouthshire as if it were a property in the Footballers' Wives television series.
"It would be patronising of the court to endorse that judgment, but having seen what was planned I am bound to say the comparison is not inapt.
"Features that were intended to improve had been added without consideration or sympathy, rather like painting a moustache on an old master or adding a drum and bass track to music written by Mozart."
Looking through the case history it appears that the £40k was for breach of the enforcement notice served last year...