A row over a boundary fence escalated into a legal battle when a self-made millionaire was falsely labelled a wife beater by his irate neighbour.
George Homer, 76, lives in the 50-bed Hatherton Estate mansion in South Staffordshire, West Midlands, and took his neighbour Michelle Hollingsworth to court for the comments she made nearly three years ago.
The former headmistress accused Mr Homer of being a wife beater during a heated confrontation over the boundaries between their sprawling country residences.
George Homer, pictured, won a legal battle after his neighbour called him a wife beater during an angry dispute over land boundaries
Mr Homer and Mrs Hollingsworth were together on his estate during the confrontation when she told the 76-year-old he was a wife beater ‘and she knew that’.
The remark was heard by her husband, property developer Joe. It was also heard by Mr Homer’s 48-year-old son Martin and one of his employees.
Significantly, however, the angry words were recorded on a mobile phone.
The self-made millionaire lives in a luxurious 50-bed mansion called the Hatherton Estate in South Staffordshire, West Midlands
This week at London’s High Court, Mr Homer was given an apology from his neighbour.
He also won compensation and a portion of his legal costs will be covered.
The scale of the compensation involved has not been made public, but former boxer Mr Homer described the amount as ‘considerable’.
Legal action for slander – spoken defamatory remarks – is rare. Libel actions over written defamatory remarks are more common.
The estate was built in 1632 and neighbours the sprawling Coppice House, where Joe and Michelle Hollingsworth moved into in 2004
However, Mr Homer, whose whose second wife Patricia died in 1988, stressed money was never the reason behind the legal battle.
‘It’s not about the money. Something like that is nasty and needs to be addressed. I am very jealous of my reputation.
‘It took some doing and it’s on the back of your mind all the time. I’d wake up at 2am because of it.
The stunning and luxurious grade II listed Hatherton Hall, built in 1632, was formerly the country seat of Baron Hatherton
‘I’m a man who doesn’t seek publicity – I don’t like that sort of thing. It leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
‘Everyone told me not to take legal action but you have to do it because of the offence a remark like that causes, not just to me, but also to other people.’
The case shone a spotlight on the simmering tension between Mr Homer and the Hollingsworths.
Mr Homer has lived for 35 years at spectacular Hatherton Hall, a 50-room mansion with its own fishing lakes and stables.
He drives a Mercedes and a 1934 Bentley.
In 2004, Joe and Michelle Hollingsworth moved into Coppice House, a beautiful, sprawling residence a mere stone’s throw from Mr Homer’s.
Mr Homer was given an apology from his neighbour and also won compensation while a portion of his legal costs will be covered
Shortly afterwards, they became embroiled in their bitter row that is still ongoing.
Speaking about the confrontation with Mrs Hollingsworth, Mr Homer said: ‘Fortunately, there were witnesses, and one of them had a mobile phone in his pocket.
‘I was brought up by my nan and grandad. My dad was in a Prisoner of War camp and he never came back. I left school at 14.
‘I don’t argue with anybody. I never raise my voice, but I was livid over what she said.’
Grade II listed Hatherton Hall, built in 1632 and was formerly the country seat of Baron Hatherton.
Mrs Hollingworth, who lives in a neighbouring and sprawling country residence, gave Mr Homer an apology for the remark that was recorded on a mobile phone