Squatters have reportedly occupied a luxury spa and hotel and claimed they plan to turn it into a “micro nation”.
The £300 per night hotel was once owned by Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey before it went bankrupt in 2021 due to ongoing financial problems.
According to the locals, the group of trespassers, led by Tom Wilkinson, took over the 21-room resort in Laugharne, Wales, and reportedly began hosting wild late-night parties with friends arriving in minibuses.
Tom Wilkinson claims that his actions are aimed at preserving a piece of history, suggesting that his efforts will be so remarkable they will make the legend of Robin Hood seem believable by comparison.
The once-luxurious hotel, now under occupation, has seen its entrance roped off and its signage defaced, reflecting the disruption caused by the squatters.
According to Companies House, the current owner of the property is Upper Street Holdings, a company based in the Seychelles.
The group purchased the hotel in 2022 for under £20,000, a surprisingly low price for such a location, possibly due to its condition or financial struggles.
They have since undertaken legal action with Llanelli County Court to force the squatters out, naming name “Mr Thomas Wilkinson AKA Tom Walk and persons unknown” as the defendants in the case.
In response, Wilkinson posted an image of the claim form on his Facebook page alongside a rant in which he claimed he is planning a ‘counter claim’ of £250,000 against the owners for “security costs alone”.
He posted: “They really have gone and put their foot in it. Just on security costs alone, my counterclaim comes to £250,000. £25 an hour x3 for 24 hours a day x5 months. If we added renovation costs, maintenance and cleaning to the bill the claimant would basically be paying me.”
Speaking to The Sun, Sandra Flaxman, 75, who runs a nearby campsite claimed she had been forced to padlock her shower and toilet facilities, alleging this was because Wilkinson and his fellow squatters had been secretly using them.
She claimed that he had been driving his car up and down her lane to make her feel “intimidated”.