Shepherdess Ordered to Pay Six-Figure Costs After Losing Gate Dispute
An 80-year-old shepherdess has been left facing a devastating six-figure legal bill following a bitter six-year neighbour dispute that escalated to the High Court. Muriel Whiston, a Charolais sheep breeder, clashed with her wealthy neighbours Peter and Kelly Leonard over a gate installed on a shared track at their Shropshire properties.
The Origins of the Bitter Feud
The conflict began in 2020 when Mrs Whiston erected new gates across the shared track leading to her smallholding, accompanied by a sign insisting they be kept shut "at all times" to contain her sheep. The Leonards, who purchased their £900,000 farmhouse in 2017, claimed the gate interfered with their right of way and prevented Mrs Leonard from easily reversing her Land Rover out of their courtyard.
Peter Leonard, 42, is director of MM Capital, a Dublin-based property development business specializing in hotel construction with approximately £90 million in investments over the past decade. The couple also operate a refuge for rescued rabbits on their 33-acre property.
Legal Battles and Court Rulings
The dispute first reached Birmingham County Court in 2024, where Judge Sarah Watson ruled that:
- The gate could remain in place
- The sign must be replaced with one reading: "Lower Fenemere Farm and Turning for Lower Fenemere Court. Please shut gate after use to prevent the escape of farm livestock."
- Mrs Whiston was prohibited from telling delivery drivers or visitors not to use the track beyond the gate
- The judge did not find Mrs Whiston's behavior to be "abusive" but described her as "forthright" and not mincing words
Both parties appealed aspects of this ruling to the High Court, where Mr Justice Michael Green recently dismissed all challenges and upheld the original decision. Crucially, he confirmed that Mrs Whiston must bear the substantial legal costs of the case, which are expected to run well into six figures.
Property History and Escalating Tensions
The court heard that the land had been owned by Mrs Whiston's family since before she was born and was divided in 1996. When the Leonards moved in, there was already a gate across the track to contain sheep, but it was typically left open unless the flock was nearby.
Relations deteriorated in 2020 when the Leonards complained via text message that Mrs Whiston wasn't reopening the gate after her sheep had moved to the fields. Despite attempts to discuss alternative gate placements, Mrs Whiston proceeded to install a new gate in August 2020, sparking the legal battle.
High Court Judgment and Financial Consequences
Mr Justice Green expressed regret that "this matter could not be resolved out of court and that there has been so much time and money spent in relation to this dispute, quite out of proportion to the issues at stake."
The judge noted that while Mrs Whiston had prevailed on some points—particularly regarding whether her behavior was abusive—the Leonards were "clearly the winners in this case." He dismissed Mrs Whiston's appeal against the costs order, leaving the octogenarian facing financial consequences that could exceed £100,000.
The case highlights how seemingly minor neighbour disputes can escalate dramatically, consuming significant time and resources in the legal system while leaving all parties financially and emotionally drained.
