Listed Buildings Prosecutions Database Commentary

10 The house, which had first been occupied in 1860 was reconstructed and extended i n Italianate style in 1898-1901 for a visit o f King Edward VII i n 1902. Mr. Manjinder Gill and his two brothers bought a wing of the house at auction in 1997 and then insured it for £2.5M. Mr. Gill initially appealed at a public inquiry into the service of five Listed Building Enforcement Notices served by the Council to secure the return of the fireplaces. Gill told the inquiry that he had sold the fireplaces for £45,000 to a New York-based antique dealer, Chantelle O’Sullican because he did not need consent to remove them and needed the cash because he was bankrupt. It was understood at the time that the fireplaces had been shipped to the Republic of Ireland. Mr. Mike Taylor of English Heritage at Birmingham stated that 'The fireplaces were pieces of enormous rarity. They were of extremely high artistic quality and considerable craftsmanship’. Staffordshire police took over the investigation when it became clear that an attempt had been made to obtain the full insurance value of the fireplaces by deception and successfully prosecuted under the Fraud Act. Stafford Crown Court was told that In January 1998, six months before the burglary, Manjinder Gill went to see an antiques dealer i n New York, taking photographs of the fireplaces and asking £100,000. The dealer came to England and offered £50,000, which was accepted. A man was then flown from Dublin to rip the fireplaces out ready for shipment. The three brothers then tried to claim money back on insurance. In June 1998, a Council officer made an appointment to view Rangemoor Hall but two days before his visit, Parmjit Gill c laimed the fireplaces and some jewelry had been stolen when in fact there had been no burglary and the fireplaces had been removed at least ten weeks earlier and sold. The court was told that the brothers might well have intended to wait a little longer before reporting the alleged burglary had the Council’s conservation officer not made an appointment to visit. Judge John Shand was told that the conservation officer and insurance company had became suspicious and no money was paid out. In the Crown Court, Manjinder and Parmjit Gill admitted conspiracy to defraud. Kuldip Gill denied the charge but a jury at an earlier trial had found him guilty. Manjinder, who organised the deception, was sentenced to 12 months in prison and his brothers were both sentenced to nine months. (Source: LPA and Planning 21/01/2000) Epping Forrest District Council [02-1996] Hainault Hall, Lambourne Road, Chigwell Row, Essex, Listed Grade 2. House dating from the late 18 th century extended in the 19 th century and listed in June 1954. The owner Mr. M. Sandhu (aka Singh) was fined £3,500 at Snaresbrook Crown Court in February 1996 for six counts of unauthorised alterations including the replacement of six sash windows, ten internal window surrounds, six pairs of internal window shutters, a fireplace surround and two cupboards. The trial lasted for nine days with the Council incurring costs of £20,000, however following the