A millionaire dubbed ‘Britain’s worst landlord’ has been accused of harassing councillors despite a previous court injunction which cost him £125,000.
Ashford Borough Council claims property mogul Fergus Wilson has continued to harass and insult its staff, despite legal action a couple of years ago.
The injunction came after a “decade of harassment” in which the buy-to-let landlord repeatedly instructed councillors to kill themselves and sent huge numbers of unsolicited letters and emails.
The council’s representative Adam Solomon QC previously handed over a staggering 454 pieces of correspondence sent by Mr Wilson to council officials in the space of just over four years between February 2016 and July 2020.
Mr Soloman said his behaviour had made workers feel harassed and intimidated, with some receiving emails from him on a daily basis.
He was served a permanent injunction stopping him from contacting current and former officers, employees, councillors and agents of the council.
The judgment required he should only communicate with one senior officer at the council.
The case concluded in September 2021 and in May 2022, the court ordered Mr Wilson to make a payment of £125,000 to Ashford Borough Council as a part payment “on account” while the full costs are assessed.
The council believes this value, just under 75 per cent of their estimated costs of £170,000, represents a reasonable sum.
But this week, Anthony Dunne KC, sitting as a Judge of the High Court, heard evidence from the authority that since the previous injunction was secured, Mr Wilson has on multiple occasions continued to contact and harass staff and councillors on a range of issues.
Mr Wilson, of Boughton Monchelsea near Maidstone, represented himself in court.
Judge Dunne reserved judgment and is expected to publish his decision next month.
