'Hidden house' farmer slams contempt conviction

'Hidden house' farmer slams contempt conviction6 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleGeorge TorrEast MidlandsDerbyshire Dales District CouncilThe unauthorised dwelling was concealed inside an agricultural barnA farmer found in contempt of court for failing to remove a "hidden house" inside a barn has said the council that took legal action against her showed "no compassion".Derbyshire Dales District Council said Helen Lowe, of North Park Farm, Whitworth Road, Darley Dale, built the dwelling, which was "deliberately concealed to avoid detection" and did not have planning permission.After multiple attempts to order Lowe to pull down the building, the council took her to court after she failed to comply with the demolition order. She faces sentencing on 18 August. The 59-year-old told the BBC: "They've put a vulnerable person in a very compromised position, they've shown no compassion."The council has said the maximum penalty is two years' imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both.The local authority was also awarded £10,000 in costs after Lowe was found guilty of contempt for failing to comply with the court's order following a trial at Nottingham County Court on 18 May.Demolition decisionFollowing reports of a potential breach, the council said officers carried out an investigation and served an enforcement notice on 19 February 2020.Lowe appealed to the government's Planning Inspectorate, but this was dismissed on 23 February 2022. The inspector ordered her to cease using the building as a dwelling, remove the unauthorised structure and demolish the "unlawful extension" to the barn. The council said Lowe had "failed to comply within the time allowed".Lowe was subsequently taken to court. On 9 September 2024, she was ordered to remove the unauthorised dwelling and cease living in the barn. Despite this "she continued to occupy the building and did not carry out...