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Couple's dream Spanish home demolished by planning officials after villa was built by rogue developer without permission
John and Jan Brooks spent 170,000 on the three-bedroom property They were forced to move out months after buying the hillside home Bulldozers moved in and destroyed the villa after an eight-year battle Developer who duped the couple into buying it is declared bankrupt Couple from Taunton, Somerset, have returned to Britain for good
By Lucy Osborne PUBLISHED: 10:08 GMT, 18 October 2013 | UPDATED: 00:28 GMT, 19 October 2013

27 shares 562 View comments

When they bought a luxury holiday villa in Spain, John and Jan Brooks were looking forward to long, peaceful summers there with their family. But their dream turned into a nightmare when officials told them the home had to be demolished because it had been built illegally. After an eight-year legal battle to keep the 170,000 property, it has now been bulldozed. All that remains is a pile of rubble and an empty pool.

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Destruction: John and Jan Brooks, from Taunton, Somerset, bought the three-bedroom villa on a hillside near Cantoria, Andalusia, for around 170,000

Destroyed: John and Jan Brooks bought the property for 200,000 euros which is around

170,000

Demolition: John and Jan Brooks' dream 170,000 three-bedroom villa in Cantoria, Andalusia, is bulldozed because it had been built without permission by a rogue developer

Mr and Mrs Brooks used their pension money to buy the hillside villa in Cantoria, Andalucia in 2005. The couple planned to enjoy their retirement there but within a year they were told they would have to leave because the property had been built without planning permission. The house was one of four illegally built on restricted land in the Sierra de los Filabres, which were all bought by unsuspecting British expats Mr Brooks, 73, a retired sales manager, of Taunton in Somerset, said: There are no words to adequately describe our anger at the greedy, selfish, corrupt creatures who caused this situation. 'It was beautiful and all that remains now is a dust-filled swimming pool.

SPANISH DREAM THAT HAS TURNED TO A NIGHTMARE FOR BRIT EXPATS

Attracted by the year-round sunshine and low property prices, thousands of retired expats have swapped Britain for Spain. But scores have lost out to the country's planning red tape. Helen and Len Prior were left living in their demolished garage in Vera, Almenia, after their villa was knocked down. Their property had planning permission but it was knocked down because of 'irregularities' in 2008. Days later, officials demolished 10 more properties in the area - including at least four that belonged to British expats. David and Janet Hartshorn were sentenced to eight months in prison in 2011 and ordered to demolish their home after it was built on protected land in Torrox, east of Malaga. 'It had magnificent huge wooden doors and a massive roof terrace on top where you could have had a

party for 50 people, it was so huge. 'It was in a stunning spot, that's why we were tempted by it. It was our pension and a place where in happy times we enjoyed great times with our family. 'We feel so angry about what has happened. Now it is has been torn from the ground. Even the rubble has gone. The property was built by developer Francisco Pedrosa who was handed a five-month suspended jail term last year. He was also ordered to give the duped expats full compensation. However, the couple fear they have no prospect of getting their money back as Pedrosa has since declared himself bankrupt. Local mayor Pedro Llamas also illegally authorised the supply of water and electricity to the home and also received a suspended prison term.

Ruins: The remains left after the British couple from Taunton, Somerset, had their villa in Andalusia knocked down because it was built without permission

Poolside debris: The three-bedroom villa cost the British couple 170,000. Now they will have to try and recover their savings

Splash: A man jumps into the swimming pool at the Spanish villa - but the property has

now been destroyed after a court order

John and wife Jan, 70, a retired PA, first bought a home on the island of Menorca 13 years ago but decided to sell up in 2005 and invest the cash in a mainland retreat. They bought the house inland from Almeria for 180,000 and spent a further 20,000 on a beautiful kitchen and huge pool. Llamas challenged his conviction but the supreme court upheld a two-year suspended prison sentence and he was forced to give up public office for 23 months.
Spanish officials demolish British couple's 170,000 villa

Remains: John and Jan Brooks' possessions lie abandoned on the hillside near where

their three-bedroom villa stood

Remains: The demolition team were called in after a court in Almeria ordered on Monday that the properties built without permission must be destroyed

The local government sent in their own machines to flatten their home on Monday and the remaining two

illegally-built houses are set to be torn down in the coming days. Campaigners estimate corrupt developers built 300,000 illegal properties during a ten-year housing boom in Spain. Angry John said: 'We have no intention of ever setting foot in Spain again. 'Why should we spend money in Spain and give them the pleasure of having any more of my money? Never again.'

Unlucky couple: John and Jan Brooks had intended to spend three months a year in their Spanish hillside retreat

Before: John and Jan Brooks entertain friends at their Spanish villa - but it has now been reduced to rubble

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Comments (562)
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AGPCUK, Bournemouth, United Kingdom, 44 minutes ago Those who buy prop ties and Don't check all the legalities have themselves to blame.

6 2 Click to rate Report comment Alan L, Chichester, 44 minutes ago And of course that pile of rubble makes the place look so much better. Not.

2 4 Click to rate Report comment tom, Haverfordwest, Anguilla, 1 hour ago I spend 3/4 months a year in Spain and it's WONDERFUL. You might note this is only the second brits house bulldozed although one gets the impression there are hundreds - indeed haven't more been raised to the ground in the UK by jobsworth councils for being built 6 inches out of place in the UK

9 14 Click to rate Report comment Thornburyboy, West Country, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago Spain might have an attractive climate for sunseekers but beware of the very alien culture - when in the last 1000 years has Spain ever been on the same side in anything as Britain?

10 18 Click to rate Report comment bootfur, norwich, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago i think this is proof that the Spanish can not be trusted!, they should be ashamed of their nation for letting this happen, i live in France, and would never buy anything in Spain, buyer beware if you want to live in Spain.

11 19 Report comment billybob, london, 1 hour ago

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Why is it "The Spanish" that are at fault because a British buyer didn't use a lawyer to oversee his property purchase? A ridiculous statement. 13 16 Click to rate Report comment andyiseddy02, manchester, 1 hour ago Things like this make me smile. 'Oh look at us all smug living in the sun,goodbye England,Oh it has all gone wrong,lets go running back to England with our tails between our legs'.

35 7

Report comment tom, Haverfordwest, Anguilla, 1 hour ago smile at others? what a n4sty little louse you are! 2 28

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Report comment thru a glass darkly, Englandland, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago Why is it the HRA is enforced all across Europe but doesn't apply to any Briton.Are the Spanish even in the same EU as Britain.

5 14 Report comment billybob, london, 58 minutes ago What has the HRA got to do with people who build illegal properties...Your comment is bizarre. 2 9

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Click to rate Report comment Betsyinspain, Alicante, 1 hour ago It is not the notary's remit to investigate, he only rubber stamps what the seller and lawyer has provided. It isn't the same as the UK, why assume it is??

0 18 Click to rate Report comment wolfy, warrington, 1 hour ago I would like to bet that they just leave the rubble there.

3 10 Click to rate Report comment Soy Sauce, Midlands, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago The whole thing is a scam. You're telling me the Spanish authorities didn't know this was happening? Rubbish! This is a local authority happy to take British money into their local economy for the work and goods that go into building a house, then demolish it on a technicality. How many timee have we heard these stories? Spain deserves to go down the pan when they pull stunts like this.

6 51 Click to rate

Report comment thru a glass darkly, Englandland, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago

Worse still,you never hear of British politicians protesting about this or fighting our corners on it. 3 18 Click to rate The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

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