Jeremy Cowdrey, the son of the late England cricket legend Colin Cowdrey, is currently embroiled in a court battle with his neighbour, Vanessa Gibson, over accusations that she has obstructed the sale of his £3.85 million property in Goudhurst, Kent. The dispute stems from claims that Ms Gibson's actions have caused significant distress and financial loss to Mr Cowdrey, who is pursuing legal action against her.
The conflict began over a tennis court that Mr Cowdrey, 64, alleges encroached onto Ms Gibson's land. He claims that Ms Gibson, a former futures trader, initiated a campaign filled with falsehoods to undermine the sale of his sprawling ten-acre estate, Crowbourne Farm, reportedly to "extract money" from him. Mr Cowdrey has accused Ms Gibson of falsely alleging issues such as flooding, problematic utility services, and misrepresenting the status of the ongoing dispute regarding the tennis court, which had actually been resolved.
The property is a Grade II-listed farmhouse, featuring a variety of amenities including a wine cellar, a guest cottage, and extensive grounds replete with stables, lakes, and a tennis court. Mr Cowdrey placed the estate on the market in June 2023, initially seeking an asking price of £3.25 million. However, he claims that numerous potential buyers were deterred by Ms Gibson's alleged obstruction, to the extent that he missed out on an offer of £3.85 million.
During proceedings at Central London County Court, Mr Cowdrey's barrister, Brooke Lyne, presented the case, indicating that the false allegations made by Ms Gibson significantly impacted the sale process. In her submission, Lyne noted, “They were essentially that, in the period leading up to the sale which was due to happen in June 2023, Ms Gibson made a series of allegations that there had been breaches of restrictive covenants... which we say were false.”
In response, Ms Gibson, 55, who is self-representing in this case, has vehemently denied all allegations made against her. She contended in court that she has engaged with Mr Cowdrey honestly and has sought to mediate conflicts, asserting that Mr Cowdrey expressed concerns about flooding issues that were prevalent in both of their properties beginning in 2022. Ms Gibson argued that any ongoing flooding issues may stem from a poorly maintained overflow in one of Mr Cowdrey's lakes rather than her own land.
At recent hearings, Judge Nigel Butler heard details of the plight experienced by Mr Cowdrey due to the alleged slander against his property. He has filed a lawsuit seeking approximately £350,000, which includes requests for “aggravated damages” based on claims of “malicious falsehood”. The judge has allowed Mr Cowdrey to pursue part of his claim while denying his request to increase the compensation to £550,000, which he believed represented the “blight” on his property due to Ms Gibson's actions.
Colin Cowdrey is remembered as a legendary cricket figure, known for his prowess as England's captain and the first cricketer to play 100 Test matches. His legacy continues through his children, including Jeremy, who transitioned from a career in stockbroking to film production, having collaborated on projects such as the 2013 film 'Summer in February'.
The case surrounding Jeremy Cowdrey and Vanessa Gibson will return to court for a full trial in the future, where further evidence and testimonies are expected to shape the ongoing dispute.
Source: Noah Wire Services