Originally Posted by knowledgepower:
“We were directed to this site by some neighbours who were getting increasingly concerned and volunteered to share some information which may help, as well as bring some justice to a situation in which speculation is spiralling out of control.
Ms Jones has made few friends locally since moving into Lawn House. She is very stand-offish, behaves erratically and has traduced the reputations of various locals, not least Jamie.
Jamie may be deaf but he is not stupid. Nor is he threatening, imbecilic, retarded or any other of the words that have been used here. When Ms Jones wanted to use grazing on Jamie's land, she was very happy for her gofer to sweet-talk Jamie to keep him sweet. They spent a great deal of time together. The most basic enquiries locally will confirm that they used to be very close. It is a matter of record that Jamie thought there was more to this than there was. He was never 'convicted of stalking', he had a conditional discharge and costs. He was extremely apologetic.
The horses are over Hornby Castle way and have been for months. Everybody knows this too. There is no question that Jamie is driving around trying to find them. Why would he?
He is a hard working farmer. It is a 24 hour-a-day job. Of course he is out at all hours. What farmer isn't? The idea that someone can arrive and demand the world revolves around her is absurd. When John sold the place, none of us could have anticipated the turmoil since. And as for the state of the house now! Well, all I can say is it's very sad.
We have heard that Ms Jones has to sell the house to pay some bills, mainly the taxman. It's a generally held opinion here that she is trying to scupper the sale so the house isn't auctioned. It's apparent that, in the current state, she is unlikely to sell anyway. Making out that her neighbour is a monster will help to reinforce her case that the house in unsaleable. It isn't, it will sell for the right price and there are local people who would be interested if it were to come to auction.
It's not right that she can write what she wants when it hurts others. It's not right that they have no voice. It's certainly not right that she is making so many people miserable.
I'm sorry if this seems to go on a bit, but if you're not local you don't know.”
Thank you, knowledgepower, for sharing this, from 'the front line' as it were.
The whole thing is awful - and having read the article posted earlier
http://www.capitalbay.news/news/7354...3100-fine.html - by another DS, it is disgraceful that Jones should use a public forum, i.e. the MoS, to further traduce the unfortunate man. Sure, he obviously has problems -being deaf and having speech difficulties - well, you'd think Jones would sympathise, as she claims to be 'profoundly deaf', but from reading that article (I hadn't seen it before until today), he and Nic had a fairly good relationship - friendly and helpful. So he got the wrong idea, mistaking friendship for something more ... these things happen, especially with someone vulnerable and probably very lonely - and hence the problems started.
Jones is just stoking things up - column fodder, of course, and reinforcing her 'victim' status. Sure, the recent encounter must have been frightening but again, IS there an element of exaggeration? Why does she confront him instead of just walking away? And emailing the man's sister and going off on one about how he keeps his animals, instead of sticking to the point that he apparently frightened her? And I still don't really believe that the Police would pass on his sister's email address.
Anyway, thanks again for posting here. I fear that even IF Jones does have to sell up and move, wherever she goes, there'll be the inevitable problems with neighbours. And all THEIR fault, of course - nothing to do with Ms Jones's attitude! Meanwhile, you and your other neighbours have my deepest sympathy - it must be a horrid situation for you all. Let's hope she IS forced to sell up - believe me, HMRC won't stand for any nonsense - they want their money and if it means the house goes up for auction, up for auction it will go! And good luck to HMRC, I hope they get the back tax Jones owes - and you get rid of someone who, frankly, is becoming almost malicious in writing about people who, as you point out, have no right of reply.
And I hope the new owners of the house are really nice people -and by the way, it comes across in your post that you all look out for, and sympathise with, Jamie. The MoS should be thoroughly ashamed of itself for permitting Jones to try to settle scores in print - my old editor (I was a journo all my working life) would never have allowed it.