Most neighbour disputes stay at the level of a tense conversation over the fence. Philip and Denise New took theirs all the way to the High Court in London — and are now facing a bill of £130,000 for the privilege.
It started in 2012 with a fence.
Philip replaced some old fence panels that had become overgrown with weeds. His neighbours Steve and Karen Gibson argued the replacement fence was in the wrong position — six inches too far into their garden, meaning the News were technically trespassing on Gibson land.
The News disagreed. They said the fence had been in the same position for over fifteen years and they had simply replaced the panels using the original cement posts.
An independent surveyor was brought in to settle the matter in 2015. The News disagreed with his findings and sought a second opinion. The Gibsons sued in 2018. A judge ruled in the Gibsons' favour in 2021. Several appeals followed. The case eventually reached the High Court last week.
Fourteen years over six inches of garden.
But the fence was not even the most remarkable part of the story. During the dispute Philip New wrote and published two songs about his neighbours on Facebook and YouTube. One contained lyrics about throwing things at their windows and blowing up their gate. The other appeared to mock Mr Gibson's rare bone disorder — suggesting he faked his disability in public and committed benefits fraud.
Mr Gibson described finding the songs as upsetting, hurtful, and hateful.
The judge was not impressed. Philip and Denise New have been ordered to pay £9,500 in damages plus £120,000 in legal costs. They have remortgaged their home to cover it.
Six inches of garden. Fourteen years. £130,000.