A father and son have been ordered to pay £20,000 in court costs following a neighbour dispute that escalated over access to a passageway and culminated in laundry being left to dry on a private patio.
Musician Jodie Schloss took legal action against Robin Larkins and his father, Derek Larkins, alleging harassment and trespass. The row centred on a passageway leading to the back garden of a Victorian villa in Strathray Gardens, Swiss Cottage, north London.
Ms Schloss had for many years permitted other residents in the five-storey building to use the passageway, which forms part of her home. However, she revoked that access last August due to privacy concerns. The Larkinses, who have long maintained the property, objected and were accused of forcing the gate open on two occasions.
The dispute reached a peak when Ms Schloss discovered the Larkins family's laundry drying on her private patio. She sought an injunction to prevent further incursions, which was granted. Despite both men agreeing not to use the passageway again, Judge Stephen Hellman at Mayor's and City County Court ruled that a substantial costs bill was appropriate due to the repeated trespasses.
In court, Ms Schloss's barrister described a campaign of harassment, including threats to rip out the gate and use of a crowbar to force entry. Robin Larkins, representing himself, said he acted to preserve other neighbours' access, though he has direct garden access from his own flat.
