Stanhope Castle residents prepare for court battle

Nov 13 2008 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

A SELF-STYLED “fun loving criminal” is at the centre of a neighbour dispute which has divided those who live behind the gates of an imposing County Durham castle.

Stanhope Castle, built in 1795, stands imperiously above the tranquil Weardale market town and is split into about a dozen apartments.

But now, amid claims and counter-claims of access blocking and harassment, occupants are preparing to face one another across a courtroom.

Builder Ian Mear, supported by “one-armed bandit killer” Dennis Stafford, is suing neighbour Charles Scott for loss of earnings. Mr Mear, 52, who lives with German-born wife Marianne in an apartment below Mr Stafford, has taken his claim to Teesside County Court in Middlesbrough, where it was adjourned by a district judge on Tuesday.

Mr Scott, a former solicitor who formed a residents’ association – excluding Mr Mear and Mr Stafford – is contesting claims by Mr Mear that he prevented him going about his lawful business by parking a horse trailer in front of the castle gates.

Mr Stafford, 75, is acting as a “McKenzie friend” for Mr Mear in the dispute. A McKenzie friend accompanies someone representing themselves in court to offer advice. Mr Stafford is certainly no stranger to a courtroom.

His recently published autobiography, co-written with author Stafford Hildred, is entitled Fun Loving Criminal: The Autobiography of a Gentleman Gangster, and outlines his criminal career from his childhood in London’s East End close to the notorious Kray twins, whom he once dismissed as “a Mickey Mouse firm”.

That was after Ronnie and Reg had both died, it must be said. Notes with Fun Loving Criminal describe Mr Stafford as a “chameleon, fugitive, playboy, criminal, political prisoner, con man, comedian.”

It adds: “In his dramatic, but above all, honest, autobiography, Dennis tells of daring prison escapes, living on the run in the Caribbean and South Africa, how he survived a shooting attempt by a jealous girlfriend, and, for the first time, the full story on the miscarriage of justice surrounding the One-Armed Bandit Murder.”

He said: “It is undoubtedly true that I have had a wealth of experience in courtrooms, and I have agreed to assist Ian as a McKenzie Friend because I believe he has a number of genuine grievances against Charles Scott.”

Mr Mear, who is working for a local builder developing five homes in Stanhope, claims he has lost £3,000 in earnings because he could not drive his vehicles out of Stanhope Castle as the road was blocked.

He said: “I am trying to go about my law-abiding business without causing any offence, but Mr Scott seems intent on making life as difficult as he can for me.”

Mr Scott, a former partner with law firm Ward Hadaway, said the wrangle was about land ownership in the castle and he was disputing Mr Mear’s claim he had caused loss of earnings or harassment.