A WOMAN locked in a bitter row over a 15cm gap in a privacy fence has claimed she is having to sell her home.
Muriel Middle, 79, has been battling her neighbour in court since 2023 over a 12cm gap in the boundary fence separating their two back gardens.
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Muriel, who lives in Pontyclub, Wales, owes her neighbour Alexander Miles over £13,000 after the court upheld the case in his favour.
However, the extra costs associated with the case mean that Muriel now owes nearly £20,000.
The 79-year-old is a retired beauty technician and childminder who headed to court under the assumption that she would easily win.
However, now, the cost of the court ruling has forced her to sell her house to her daughter to raise some cash.
The delay in making that payment meant the case appeared back before Cardiff Civil Justice Centre last week which Sam Middle, Ms Middle’s daughter, attended in her place.
Sam, a firefighter for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “This has absolutely crushed us.
“It has left my mother, who has worked all her life, needing to sell her home.
“She was too old to remortgage the house so she is in the process of selling the house to me to free up funds.
“None of this should ever have happened. It’s over a small part of a fence.”
Alexander had removed part of the fence between the two houses while he was building an extension to his own property.
However, the Middles claimed that he was trying to access a drainpipe which had been theirs before the fence was removed.
Disputes between Muriel and Alexander became so heated that the police were called multiple times and she eventually decided to take matters into her own hands.
Muriel instructed a contractor to fill the gap in the fence with panels, prompting Alexander to hit back by threatening court actions.
He claimed that Muriel had inserted panels into his own fence which did not match the other sections in size or colour.
The 79-year-old refused to back down, despite being told that the case could cost her “thousands”.
Both parties claim they tried to come to a resolution outside of court but said it was impossible to reach a solution.
Mr Miles sought damages for Muriel undermining the foundations of the fence.
Meanwhile, they argued that the additional panels provided privacy and security.
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Sam also claimed that a 12cm gap in the fence still meant that the drainpipe could easily be accessed, though Alexander disputed this.
In a statement read in court, Muriel said: “How I find myself in court defending myself I do not understand.
“I have done nothing wrong and broken no laws.
“I’ve not had the easiest life.
“My first daughter and my husband died and I was left to raise my remaining daughter on my own.
“As devastating as that was I can honestly say I have never encountered the stress this has put me under.”
Despite spending thousands on a surveyor report, the Middles were told that it was unusable in court since they had claimed that they wouldn’t need expert evidence.
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Sam also claimed her mother was not computer-literate and had struggled through the process with little help from the court.
In July hearing, it was determined that Mr Miles is the owner of the fence.
Ms Middle said it has now left her in a very difficult position.
She said: “I’ve scrimped and saved all my life.
“I’ve worked 53 years to make sure I could leave Sam a property without a mortgage and this has forced me into a situation where I’ve lost that.
“That really sticks in my throat.
“I’ve never been in debt in my life to now. I’m so upset about it. It’s left me in such a state.
“This whole thing has completely destroyed me. I now don’t do anything at all.”
When approached by WalesOnline, Mr Miles said the court’s judgment was clear and he did not want to be quoted further.
