A Tyneside man who attempted to seize a family’s holiday flat by claiming “squatters’ rights” has been sentenced at Newcastle Moot Hall. Stephen Nott, 61, broke into the North Shields property, changed the locks, and aggressively confronted a family member by declaring he was carrying out a “hostile takeover.”
The flat, located at Chirton Dene Quays, served as a cherished retirement holiday home for a family with deep ties to the area. The owners, who did not live there permanently, visited the property regularly. When the owners’ son visited the flat on December 27 last year to check on the premises, he discovered that the locks had been replaced and that Nott was inside.
During the confrontation, Nott claimed he had legal ownership of the property through the principle of “adverse possession,” often referred to as squatters’ rights. He insisted to responding police officers, “It’s not burglary, it’s adverse possession,” claiming he had moved in after believing the home was abandoned.
Prosecutor Laura Peto told the court that prior to the break-in, Nott had sent emails to the family expressing interest in the property, falsely believing it was empty. The family stated they felt Nott was attempting to manipulate the situation following a recent death in the family.
In a victim impact statement, the son of the owners described the flat as a “great source of happiness” for his parents, who were both born in North Shields. The intrusion has left the family so distressed that they now intend to sell the property.
Nott, of Brandling Court, North Shields, pleaded guilty to burglary. His defence counsel, Christopher Knox, argued that Nott had developed a “misguided understanding of the law” through extensive, albeit inaccurate, internet research. The court heard that Nott, who had been homeless and living in a tent at Royal Quays following a divorce, believed he was acting within his rights.
The defendant’s criminal history was highlighted during the proceedings, with the court noting 30 previous convictions for 69 offences, including 16 prior burglaries and a previous conviction for sexual activity with a child.
Recorder Richard Stubbs sentenced Nott to nine months in prison, suspended for 12 months. Additionally, Nott was handed a two-year restraining order preventing him from contacting the family and was ordered to pay £800 in costs.
The sentencing marks the end of a distressing ordeal for the family, who had seen their personal retreat turned into a focal point of a criminal dispute. Nott, who is now back living with his wife and child, leaves the court with a suspended sentence, provided he adheres to the terms set by the judge.
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