News

Jonathan Darby successfully acts in committal hearing relating to unauthorised work to a listed building

Jonathan Darby recently acted for Huntingdonshire District Council in a committal application that resulted in the owner of Manor Farmhouse, High Street, Spaldwick being found guilty of contempt of court for carrying out unauthorised work to a listed building. Owner and builder Richard Johnson was sentenced to a 6 week suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay £25,000 towards the Council's costs.

In October 2014 the Court granted the Council a temporary injunction to prevent Mr Johnson from carrying out unauthorised work to the grade 2 listed building which he owned in Spaldwick.  The injunction was lifted within a few days when he gave an undertaking to the court.  Despite the undertaking not to do so, further unauthorised works were carried out from mid-2015 onwards.  The Court's decision on Friday 11th November was the culmination of a year of legal action by Council.

To read Huntingdon District Council's press release, please click here.