A 79-year-old widow has been forced to relinquish ownership of her home after losing a bitter legal battle with her neighbour over a £300 fence.
Muriel Middle, who had lived in her mid-terrace home in Pontyclun, South Wales, for two decades, was ordered to pay £15,000 in legal fees following the dispute with neighbour Alexander Miles. The financial strain became so severe that Muriel's daughter, Sam, a firefighter, had to purchase the house to prevent her mother from falling into bankruptcy.
The conflict began when Mr Miles built a garden extension and removed part of the fence separating their properties to access a drainpipe. Muriel replaced the section with new fencing, claiming the pipe was on her land. However, Mr Miles objected, stating the new fence did not match the original in size or colour - a disagreement that quickly escalated into a courtroom battle.
Muriel told MailOnline:
"I don't think I'm going to last much longer after going through this for the last couple of years. I just feel ill all the time.
The only thing I did was replace 11 planks of wood. He took out an injunction because they were the 'wrong colour'. Of course new panels won't match - the old ones are faded."
Without access to legal support or digital tools, Muriel said she felt helpless and discriminated against.
"I don't know how to use a computer. I feel as if I've had no justice whatsoever. At my age, I thought I'd be able to relax a bit. But this worry has just taken over my life. I can't afford anything - not even a cup of coffee."
A case heard at Cardiff Civil Justice Centre last summer ruled in Mr Miles' favour. Unable to afford legal representation, Muriel and her daughter represented themselves.
In court, Muriel reflected on the hardship the dispute had caused:
"How I find myself in court defending myself I do not understand. I have done nothing wrong and broken no laws. I lost my husband and my first daughter, and raised my remaining daughter alone. But nothing has caused me more stress than this."
Her daughter, Sam, echoed the emotional toll:
"This has absolutely crushed us. After a lifetime of working hard, my mother has been forced to give up her home. She's too old to remortgage, so I had to buy it just to free up funds to pay off this debt. None of this should ever have
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