- Martin and Sarah Catton buy Grade II*-listed Cornish property for £1.5million
- Previous owner Dr. Mark Payne removed the doors and windows of the building
Steeped in history with its walnut-paneled library, Jacobean oak staircase and secret passageways, Bochim Manor seemed the ultimate dream home.
At least that’s what Martin and Sarah Keaton thought when they bought the Grade II* listed Cornish property for £1.5million.
But upon entering the gates as owners of a ten-bedroom Gothic-Revival house that predates the Domesday Book, their dream has turned into a nightmare.
After agreeing to the sale, they found that the former owner, Dr. Mark Payne had the building stripped bare, with local crews pulling out doors, windows, floors, fireplaces, and even its plumbing and electrics.
The historic stained-glass windows were taken, as were three of the four bathrooms and part of the rich wood paneling of the library, which was made by the Bond Street firm that rebuilt the Houses of Parliament.
Not content with taking away the manor, Dr Payne had the staircase from the estate’s clock tower closed as well as the 13 holiday homes that came with the estate, near Helston.
The scale of the operation was so great that the entrance pillars at the end of the drive were dropped to allow builders’ trucks to lift the timeless interiors.
Mr Caton, a vet and entrepreneur, said: ‘I was distraught. ‘It was like a battlefield or like a whirlwind tore the place apart. He removed almost every door handle, the tiles from the wall, the locks were removed.
‘There was some very random and bizarre destruction. I don’t understand the mindset behind this – it’s amazing you can actually be so cruel.’
When Dr. Payne made an excuse to prevent them from visiting the property, the two sensed that something was ‘not quite right’ even before they had received the final key.
But he ignored their doubts. ‘When I first saw it, my worst fears came true,’ said Mr Keaton. ‘I wanted to shut the door, walk away and put it back on the market and never come back again.’
The couple – who dream of turning the property into a wedding venue and holiday cottage – estimate they have been forced to spend £1.5million renovating the properties they bought in 2014.
As soon as the Cattons became aware of the damage, they reported it to the police and Cornwall Council.
Sellers are not allowed to take fixtures and fittings – items attached to the property – without buyers’ consent.
They also require permission from the local authority to take fixtures from a listed building.
Police arrested Dr Payne on suspicion of theft, criminal damage and offenses under the Planning Act at his new home in Cumbria and recovered some items in April 2015.
But he was released without charge when the council dropped the prosecution for fear that they would not be able to prove that he had caused the harm.
Mr and Mrs Catton began using historical photographs to prove what had been taken and presented this to Cornwall Council.
The authority hired an outside lawyer who advised the council that they had ‘enough evidence’ to prosecute – but they nevertheless refused.
“It’s strange that if we want to replace a small window without permission they will come after you, but if you destroy a house you are allowed to drive without consequences,” Mr Caton he said.
The police kept the items they seized, and when the criminal trial was over, a hearing was held under the Police Property Act to determine who owned them.
Finally, in March, after a nine-year battle, the items were returned to Catton after Dr Payne failed to appear at Truro Magistrates’ Court or supply any evidence.
Dr Payne told The Mail on Sunday that he is appealing against the decision. He was barred from presenting any evidence, but also said it was an ‘inconvenient’ 1,000-mile journey for him.
The former Economist journalist said: ‘If I had done any criminal damage, had I committed any theft, had I committed any offense under the Planning Act, I would have been prosecuted.
‘Otherwise, everything is just hearsay, speculation and suspicion.’