'Britain's worst landlord' must pay £125,000 after hounding council

Multi-millionaire, 72, dubbed ‘Britain’s worst landlord’ is ordered to pay £125,000 after hounding council with letters and phone calls for a decade

  • Last year Fergus Wilson, 72, was banned for life from contacting his local council
  • The High Court ordered buy-to-let landlord to pay £125,000 for decade of abuse
  • Wilson once referred to a female member of staff as a ‘Michelin lady’ in an email

A multi-millionaire property mogul dubbed Britain’s worst landlord has been ordered to pay a six-figure sum after a ten-year campaign of vile abuse against local council staff.

Last year Fergus Wilson, 72, was banned for life from contacting Ashford Borough Council (ABC) directly, after he continually abused its staff members for a decade, and last week the High Court ordered him to pay £125,000.

This figure is only a part payment ordered by the courts while the full amount is being considered.

It is thought to be just under 75 per cent of the total value, with the council believing £170,000 is a reasonable sum total.

The buy-to-let landlord, from Maidstone, sent hundreds of letters, emails and phone calls complaining about councillors and legal representatives and even told one councillor to kill himself.

ABC’s representative, Adam Soloman QC, handed in a staggering 454 copies of correspondence to the High Court, sent by Wilson to council officials between February 2016 and July 2020.

Some workers had received daily messages of abuse, the court heard, leading to some feeling bullied and distressed, being unable to respond to allegations and breaking down in tears.

Included in the council’s evidence was a letter, sent to Council Leader Gerry Clarkson’s home address, calling him a ‘buffoon’, ‘an a******’, ‘a bag of ****’ and said he should ‘do all the young people in Ashford a service and commit suicide’.

Multi-millionaire property mogul, Fergus Wilson, 72, (pictured in 2019) dubbed Britain’s worst landlord, has been ordered to pay a six-figure sum after a ten-year campaign of vile abuse against local council staff

Wilson also referred to a female member of staff as an ‘objectionable lady’ and ‘Michelin lady’ in an email where he called for her to be sacked.

When handing down the permanent injunction, Daryl Allen QC, sitting as Deputy Judge of the High Court, said: ‘The defendant’s conduct repeatedly went far beyond merely irritating and annoying, it was deliberately offensive.

‘It included numerous unfounded allegations of professional misconduct and criminal conduct.

‘It included multiple threats of criminal or other legal proceedings which were never pursued.’

Wilson had tried to defend his actions by submitting a photograph of himself with the hashtag ‘Fat ****’ written underneath.

Last week he objected to paying costs arguing that his barrister, Alexander Deakin, had come off the case months ago and therefore had no authority.

The notorious landlord also tried to argue that he should not have to pay anything until after the appeal he intends to make.

However, Mr Allen said the barrister, who was instructed under the Direct Access Scheme, had agreed to the order and Wilson was bound by it.

He also praised the council’s action saying it was the right thing to do.

He explained: ‘They were perfectly proper proceedings designed and intended solely to protect the welfare of the First Claimant’s current and former officers, employees, councillors and agents.

Ashford Borough Council’s (pictured) representative, Adam Soloman QC, handed in a staggering 454 copies of correspondence to the High Court, sent by Wilson to council officials between February 2016 and July 2020

The £125,000 figure is only a part payment ordered by the courts while the full amount is being considered. It is thought to be just under 75 per cent of the total value, with the council believing £170,000 is a reasonable sum total (Wilson pictured)

‘It is a significant step for a public body, particularly a local council, to seek an injunction restraining the behaviour of one of its residents.

‘In my judgment it was appropriate to issue proceedings in the High Court and to instruct leading counsel.

‘In any event, those factors go to the level of costs, not the incidence of costs.’

The previous temporary injunction to ban Wilson from contacting ABC was made permanent in September 2021, meaning Wilson will only be able to contact the council workers through a named legal advisor. 

Wilson must pay the £125,000 to ABC by 4pm on May 17.

The buy-to-let landlord, from Maidstone, sent hundreds of letters, emails and phone calls complaining about councillors and legal representatives and even told one councillor to kill himself. The High Court (pictured) made the temporary ban to not contact Ashford Borough Council permanent in September last year

Source: Read Full Article