'Footballers' Wives' house fine

Andrew Hazell spent £750,000 carrying out work on the mansion

A millionaire who turned a mansion into a "Footballers' Wives-style" house has been fined at Cardiff Crown Court.

Businessman Andrew Hazell, 46, spent £750,000 making changes to the Grade II listed house at Shirenewton, near Chepstow, without planning permission.

Hazell's work included demolishing part of the house, building a large garage and installing a swimming pool.

He was fined £40,000 after being ordered to carry out repairs worth £450,000 at a previous hearing.

The court heard Hazell had "extensively remodelled" a cottage attached to the main house, built a large kitchen extension, installed under-floor heating and built a conservatory over a courtyard.

Period features including six-panel doors, moulded architraves, plaster cornices, tall sash windows and marble fireplaces were ripped out.

Planners were said to be "appalled" at the work carried out on the 250-year-old, six-bedroomed house known as The Gondra.

Hazell was given more time to restore the mansion to its original state

Judge David Wynn Morgan said: "When the press got hold of your story they described your treatment of one of the loveliest old houses in that part of Monmouthshire as if it were a property in the Footballers' Wives television series.

"It would be patronising of the court to endorse that judgment, but having seen what was planned I am bound to say the comparison is not inapt.

"Features that were intended to improve had been added without consideration or sympathy, rather like painting a moustache on an old master or adding a drum and bass track to music written by Mozart."

The judge limited Hazell's fine to £40,000 so he would have enough money to carry out the £450,000 repairs to the mansion.

In March, Hazell was ordered to restore the property to its original state within seven months.

But the court heard that restoration work had not yet started.

Repairs

Gwydion Hughes, defending, said: "There has been a number of delays preventing the work from getting started including a protected bat population inhabiting the house.

I have seen you and your family subjected to ridicule and vilification in the press, some of which I'm sure was fuelled by jealousy Judge David Wynn Morgan

"Hazell feels remorse for what he has done and will put his money where his mouth is and carry out the repairs."

Judge Wynn Morgan said he was satisfied it was not entirely Hazell's fault that it had taken so long for work to begin and that he was committed to the project.

He was given a further six months to carry out the work.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Hazell bought the house in 2004 for just over £2m and started his renovation a year later.

He went ahead with the work despite being told by architects that he should first get planning permission, listed building consent and building regulations approval.

Chief planning enforcement officer for Monmouthshire council Paula Clarke visited the property in November 2006 and discovered extensive work taking place.

Hazell, who is married with two children, pleaded guilty to carrying out unauthorised work on a listed building at an earlier hearing.

'Laughing stock'

The judge said Hazell had treated planning regulations with contempt.

"I have seen you and your family subjected to ridicule and vilification in the press, some of which I'm sure was fuelled by jealousy, to the extent it has made you a public laughing stock," he said.

"I have seen how painful that has been for you and your wife, your extended family and your father."

Hazell was also ordered to pay £8,487 court costs.