A couple who bought a dilapidated Welsh farmhouse in Pembrokeshire endured a two-year campaign of terror from their neighbours, Francis and Cassie Collins, which included crossbow attacks, petrol bombs, and relentless stalking. The ordeal ended only when the Collinses died in a double suicide in 2021.
Dream Home Turns to Nightmare
Richard Burton and Amanda Hutton purchased Fox Hill farmhouse in January 2018, drawn by the stunning water meadows and river Cleddau. They renovated the property while living in a 1974 red Leyland Atlantean double-decker bus. The land next door was sold to Francis Collins, who initially seemed friendly but soon revealed a darker side.
Escalating Harassment
The Collinses began with intrusive messages and photos of weapons, including crossbows and machetes. They cut off the couple's water supply multiple times by damaging the pipe that ran through their land. They erected two-metre-high palisade security fencing with jagged spikes and black silage plastic that rattled in the wind, creating constant noise. Francis fired crossbow bolts into a sack near the fence, and ball bearings were shot through the bus windows, narrowly missing Hutton.
Petrol Bomb Attack
The most terrifying incident occurred when three petrol bombs were thrown at the bus, one of which exploded, scorching the paintwork and blistering the panels. The bombs landed just feet from the fuel tank and gas pipe. 'He hadn't been trying to scare us. He'd been trying to kill us,' Burton said. Police charged Francis with arson, possession of a firearm, stalking, and other offences.
Legal Outcome and Deaths
Francis pleaded guilty to malicious communications and the petrol bomb incident, but was released after seven months on remand, as the judge deemed time served sufficient. The couple received no compensation. On 11 September 2021, police informed Burton and Hutton that the Collinses had been found dead at their Devon home in a double suicide. Three animals also died. 'Their deaths were ruled a double suicide,' Burton said. 'We never learned what truly drove them into such darkness.'
Aftermath
The couple, scarred but resilient, continue to live at Fox Hill. 'Maybe now the land can heal,' Hutton said. 'Maybe we all can,' Burton replied. Their story is detailed in the book Stalked, published by HarperElement.
