HIGH COURT ORDERS BELLRINGER TO SELL HOME OVER GATE DISPUTE

A High Court deputy master has ordered the sale of a London home belonging to Adrian Udal, secretary of the belfry at St Margaret's Church, to repay debts owed to his former neighbours. Deputy Master Martin Dray made the order after being told Udal had "no intention" of paying more than £100,000 in damages and legal costs awarded against him. The debt arose from a dispute with Nicholas Partick-Hiley and his wife, Lisa, who bought a mews cottage on Disbrowe Road in Fulham in August 2023. The order allows the couple to enforce charging orders already placed on Udal's property by forcing its sale to recover what they are owed.

The dispute began on the day the Partick-Hileys completed the purchase of their cottage, when Udal tore down the front door and roller gate securing the property. Udal argued he had a legal right to act because he owned the land on which the gate stood. The couple sued, and a judge, Nicholas Parfitt, ruled in their favour last year, describing Udal's actions as "wanton destruction" that had been "carefully pre-planned". That ruling left Udal facing a bill exceeding £100,000 in damages and legal costs.

Deputy Master Dray said the couple were "out of pocket and owed a considerable amount of money, which is ever increasing", adding that Udal had "disclaimed any liability to pay one penny piece" rather than attempting repayment. Udal was appointed secretary of the belfry at St Margaret's Church, a medieval building beside Westminster Abbey that serves as a place of worship for the Houses of Parliament, in 2021. His duties include liaising with clergy over bellringing for church, state and parliamentary events, and he has rung in the New Year almost every year since 2000.