A 79-year-old widow from Pontyclun, South Wales, has lost ownership of her home following a costly legal dispute with her neighbour over a £300 garden fence.
Muriel Middle, who lived in her mid-terrace house for over 20 years, was ordered to pay £15,000 in legal costs after the row with neighbour Alexander Miles escalated into a courtroom battle. With no means to cover the fees, her daughter Sam—a firefighter—stepped in and purchased the home to save her mother from financial ruin.
The conflict began when Mr. Miles constructed a garden extension and removed part of the fence to gain access to a shared drainpipe. Muriel later replaced the section, claiming the pipe was located on her land. Mr. Miles objected, arguing the new fence didn’t match the original in size or colour, prompting legal action.
Speaking to MailOnline, Muriel said: “I only replaced 11 planks of wood. He took out an injunction because they were the ‘wrong colour’. Of course they didn’t match — the old ones were faded. I’ve felt sick from the stress of it all. I don’t think I can take much more.”
With no legal aid or technological skills to defend herself properly, Muriel described feeling powerless throughout the ordeal.
“I can’t use a computer. I’ve had no justice. I thought at my age I’d finally get to rest, but this has taken over my life. I can’t afford anything — not even a cup of coffee.”
The case, heard last summer at the Cardiff Civil Justice Centre, ultimately ruled in Mr. Miles’ favour. Muriel and her daughter were forced to represent themselves in court due to the mounting costs.
Muriel told the judge: “I don’t understand how I’ve ended up here. I’ve broken no laws. I lost my husband and my first daughter. I raised my surviving daughter alone. But nothing has been as stressful as this.”
Her daughter Sam added: “This has devastated our family. After a lifetime of working hard, my mum has had to give up her home. She’s too old to remortgage, so I bought the house just to clear the debt. It should never have come to this.”
The case has sparked outrage online, with many questionings how a minor property disagreement spiraled into such a life-altering ordeal for a pensioner.
