Pensioner Forcibly Removed From Home After Losing Lengthy Legal Battle
A 77-year-old pensioner has been evicted from her home following the conclusion of a bitter five-year legal dispute with her neighbour over a mere 1ft strip of land. Jenny Field, who had resided in the property since 2016, was met at her door by court bailiffs in Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset, and informed that her home would be sold to settle outstanding legal fees.
Origins of the Bitter Boundary Dispute
The conflict began in 2020 when neighbour Pauline Clark, 64, erected a boundary fence that Field claimed encroached 12 inches onto her land. In response, Field hired contractors two months later to remove the 6ft fence and reposition it to reclaim what she believed was her property. This action triggered a series of legal proceedings that would span half a decade and accumulate substantial costs.
Escalating Legal Costs and Court Proceedings
Clark successfully took Field to court, with the initial ruling requiring Field to cover the cost of the dismantled fence and approximately £21,000 in legal fees. Refusing to accept the outcome, Field pursued multiple appeals, causing the total legal bill to skyrocket to £113,000. Last September, a county court judge dismissed Field's final appeal, describing her fraud allegations against Clark as "totally without merit."
The Final Eviction and Emotional Fallout
Judge Ross Fentem issued what he described as a "draconian order" for sale as a last resort, giving Field until December 6 to pay the £113,000 debt. When the deadline passed without payment, Clark's solicitors successfully applied for an eviction notice. Field, who had placed a sign on her door declaring any eviction attempt invalid, was forcibly removed from the property.
"They've changed the locks and won't let me back in," Field stated emotionally after the eviction. "How can I be evicted for something I haven't done? I have nowhere else to go. This is my home and my property. I have had five years of this rubbish. I am really upset by the whole thing."
Legal Perspective and Property Equity
Clark's solicitor, Anna Curtis, noted that there had been no settlement discussions or refinancing attempts from Field's side throughout the lengthy proceedings. Curtis emphasised that there was more than enough equity in Field's property to cover the debt while still allowing her to purchase a comfortable retirement property mortgage-free with cash remaining.
In his judgement at Bournemouth County Court, Judge Fentem remarked: "This is a very long-running boundary dispute. The defendant has, in various ways, sought to relitigate the original case... I have no confidence at all that the claimant will be paid what she is owed except by an order for sale. This matter needs resolution; the parties need to find a way of putting the entirety of this dispute behind them."
The case serves as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of neighbour disputes escalating through the legal system, demonstrating how relatively minor boundary disagreements can result in life-altering outcomes when pursued through prolonged litigation.
