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Written by Emma Lunn

Controversial landlord Fergus Wilson has been found guilty of hitting a letting agent in a dispute about a boiler.

Wilson, 65, appeared in Folkestone Magistrates' Court last week accused of punching Daniel Wells, 31, who works for Property Lettings and Sales (PLS) in Folkestone.

After a case lasting almost eight hours, district judge Justin Barron told Wilson he did not believe his version of events and found him guilty of assault by beating. Wilson was ordered to pay £1,650, which includes £150 in compensation to Wells.

The court heard that 22-stone Wilson stormed into PLS in Cheriton Place on 19 January last year and shouted: "Right you little sh*t," at Wells before walking to his desk, hitting him in the temple and knocking him off his chair.

Half an hour before the attack Wells had spoken to Wilson on the phone to inform him one of his Ashford tenants had called to complain her boiler was not working. Wells claimed Wilson had shouted at him over the phone and he reported the verbal abuse to his manager.

Ex-boxer Wilson, of Boughton Monchelsea, near Maidstone, later claimed the issue with the boiler had been quickly resolved. He admitted swearing at Wells but denied hitting him, claiming the agent accidentally fell off his swivel chair.

Wilson's wife, Judith, claimed she was outside the office in the couple’s Land Rover Discovery and saw Wells "fall" off his chair.

Previously PLS had managed up to 280 of the Wilson’s properties but the couple started taking properties away from the company in March 2012 following a number of issues. In summer 2012 the Wilsons informed PLS they intended to remove all 280 homes by the end of the year.

Wilson, who represented himself in court, estimated the move cost PLS £25,000 a month and alleged staff had concocted a story about him assaulting Wells as revenge.

 


 

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