{"id":134037,"date":"2023-11-17T14:32:10","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T14:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluemull.com\/?p=134037"},"modified":"2023-11-17T14:32:10","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T14:32:10","slug":"exclusive-businessman-accused-of-holding-village-to-ransom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluemull.com\/world-news\/exclusive-businessman-accused-of-holding-village-to-ransom\/","title":{"rendered":"EXCLUSIVE: Businessman accused of holding village &apos;to ransom&apos;"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>EXCLUSIVE: Businessman, 41, accused of holding village &#8216;to ransom&#8217; after secretly buying up small parcels of land and trying to charge locals \u00a330,000 to park outside their own homes<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Daniel Hill\u00a0spent \u00a318,000 on contested plots in\u00a0Haslingfield, Cambridgeshire\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Previously appeared on the reality TV show Storage Hunters UK until 2018\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Denies that he had held anyone to ransom, intimidated or threatened anyone<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>An unscrupulous businessman has been accused of holding a village community to ransom after secretly buying up small parcels of land and now trying to charge them \u00a330,000 each to use their own parking spaces.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel Hill &#8211; who spent just \u00a318,000 to acquire the contested plots &#8211; is demanding residents of Haslingfield, Cambridgeshire, pay him \u00a3576 a week each in perpetuity for the right to park outside their own homes, spaces which they had previously been using for free for decades.<\/p>\n<p>Hill, 41, is understood to have also demanded \u00a3200,000 \u2018compensation\u2019 from an elderly couple to forfeit his right to develop on a small green space where they have lovingly grown and maintained a picturesque hedge and ancient willow tree since the 1970s.<\/p>\n<p>The self-styled businessman, from Norfolk, previously appeared on the reality TV show Storage Hunters UK, in which experts sell the contents of abandoned storage units to the highest bidders, who in turn hope to discover lost treasures.<\/p>\n<p>He gained a small following from the Dave network show with his catchphrase; \u2018I\u2019ll have some of that!\u2019.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/17\/13\/77930745-12762075-image-a-1_1700228471394.jpg\" height=\"356\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Daniel Hill (pictured in red)\u00a0has been accused of holding a village community to ransom after secretly buying up small parcels of land and now trying to charge them \u00a330,000 each to use their own parking spaces<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/17\/13\/77930733-12762075-image-a-13_1700228880623.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>He is demanding residents of Haslingfield, Cambridgeshire, pay him \u00a3576 a week each in perpetuity for the right to park outside their own homes, spaces which they had previously been using for free for decades<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/17\/13\/77930737-12762075-image-a-3_1700228540948.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>The 41-year-old is understood to have also demanded \u00a3200,000 \u2018compensation\u2019 from an elderly couple to forfeit his right to develop on a small green space<\/p>\n<p>But after the show closed Hill was convicted in 2018 of running an illegal dump on green-belt land in Surrey. He was fined \u00a32,500 and order to pay a further \u00a326,814.75 in a confiscation order.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year the 41-year-old acquired unused plots of land on the Badcock Road housing estate in Haslingfield at an auction of the assets of the original developer who had gone into liquidation. Residents were unaware the sale was even happening.<\/p>\n<p>Now Hill has claimed that he not only owns the two plots of land, but a sliver of land inside a garden and the rights to who uses the public road.<\/p>\n<p>The peace was first shattered early one Monday morning last month when he arrived in Badcock Road, Haslingfield, with a chainsaw and began cutting down a silver birch on the estate\u2019s designated \u2018tree-planting area\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>Hill claims he was simply \u2018clearing the land\u2019 in the pretty village near Grantchester just outside Cambridge.<\/p>\n<p>He later spray painted yellow lines on the street indicating land which he claims he owns and will charge residents to park.<\/p>\n<p>Chartered Accountant Jonathan Wheeler explained: \u2018The original developer MJ Shanley Ltd went bust and their assets were sold at auction. This included these plots of land in Badcock Road.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Hill bought them for about \u00a318,000, including fees.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018He told us that he wants to build houses on them. But these plots of land don\u2019t have planning permission and they are unlikely to get it.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018So the residents got together and we made a fair offer to buy the land from him. We offered him \u00a340,000.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018But he refused our offer. He said the plots of land were worth hundreds of thousands of pounds and that he had the right to charge us \u00a330,000-a-year each to park our cars in the street.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018It\u2019s completely outrageous.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018He says it\u2019s not about the money. But he is trying to hold us to ransom. So the residents have got together and we are going to fight back.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/17\/13\/77930751-12762075-image-a-6_1700228716002.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>One Monday morning last month Mr Hill arrived in Badcock Road, Haslingfield, with a chainsaw and began cutting down a silver birch on the estate\u2019s designated \u2018tree-planting area\u2019<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/17\/13\/77930731-12762075-image-a-4_1700228702513.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>The businessman claims he was simply \u2018clearing the land\u2019 in the pretty village near Grantchester just outside Cambridge<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/17\/13\/77930987-12762075-image-a-22_1700229029929.jpg\" width=\"636\" height=\"428\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/17\/13\/77930985-12762075-image-m-21_1700229023248.jpg\" width=\"636\" height=\"428\"><\/p>\n<p>He later spray painted yellow lines on the street indicating land which he claims he owns and will charge residents to park<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/17\/13\/77930869-12762075-image-a-7_1700228744413.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Chartered Accountant Jonathan Wheeler (left)\u00a0 said Mr Hil&#8217;s behaviour was &#8216;outrageous&#8217;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The second unused plot of land was incorporated into the garden of an elderly couple decades ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But last week Hill locked their garden gate with a padlock and marked off his \u2018property\u2019 with yellow paint and ear-marked the mature willow tree for felling.<\/p>\n<p>He erected a sign, threatening the homeowners with criminal prosecution if they went into their own garden.<\/p>\n<p>However, Hill was then arrested by Cambridgeshire Police on suspicion of criminal damage and breaching the police, when residents complained about his heavy-handed tactics. He was later released without charge.<\/p>\n<p>The elderly couple have been left shocked and dismayed by the events and declined to comment, when contacted by MailOnline.<\/p>\n<p>Land property deeds have also revealed that Hill now owns a small sliver of land inside the garden of Steve Dawson.<\/p>\n<p>But the businessman is refusing Hill\u2019s demand for compensation.<\/p>\n<p>Businessman Steve Dawson told MailOnline: \u2018I\u2019m not going to give in to ransom. He can have this strip of land if he wants. I\u2019ll just move the fence.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Maintenance contractor Paul Munro explained: \u2018We first became aware of Mr Hill one Monday morning last month. He had turned up with a chain saw and started cutting down the tree.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018But he has no right to do that. This is a designated tree planting area.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018This is also where the children play.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018He is totally out of order.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/17\/14\/77931481-12762075-image-a-25_1700229797143.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Mr Hill locked an elderly couple&#8217;s garden gate with a padlock and marked off his \u2018property\u2019 with yellow paint and ear-marked the mature willow tree for felling<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/17\/13\/77930743-12762075-image-a-10_1700228800539.jpg\" height=\"425\" width=\"306\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/17\/13\/77930753-12762075-image-a-11_1700228800541.jpg\" height=\"425\" width=\"306\"><\/p>\n<p>Bussinessman Steve Dawson (right) and maintenance contractor Paul Munro are refusing to give in to Mr Hill&#8217;s ransom money\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/17\/13\/77930755-12762075-image-a-9_1700228789788.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0Retired deputy-headteacher Wendy Timbs was one of\u00a0the first people to move into the cul-de-sac when the houses were first built in 1973<\/p>\n<p>Retired deputy-headteacher Wendy Timbs, 87, added: \u2018All of this commotion has been extremely upsetting. I have a heart condition and I have had to increase my medication due to the stress of it all.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018My husband and I were among the first people to move into the cul-de-sac when the houses were first built in 1973.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018It has always been a lovely place to live. We have a scarecrow festival most years and children can play safely in the road.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018But after this man turned up it has been a very worrying time.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Last night Daniel Hill denied that he had held anyone to ransom, intimidated or threatened anyone, but simply purchased land that was for sale.<\/p>\n<p>He added he was himself a victim of assault, insults and threatening behaviour.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement he told MailOnline: \u2018We have always wanted to live in Cambridge[,] we saw a plot of land for sale online valued at \u00a32,000 which included to [sic] potential building plots, roads, paths and a parking area.. We bought the land for \u00a312,000.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Before purchasing the land we did all the checks and found that their [sic] were no restrictions and in fact there was a planning polices [sic] that actually promoted development in the village.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I have not held anyone to ransom, intimidated nor threatened anyone [,] all I have done is purchase land that was for sale.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Hill once gave an interview in which he boasted of spending \u00a3100,000 on presents for his twin babies &#8211; only to be accused by a previous partner of failing to make child maintenance payments<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-12762075\/businessman-accused-holding-village-ransom-buying-small-pieces-land-charging-locals-parking.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EXCLUSIVE: Businessman, 41, accused of holding village &#8216;to ransom&#8217; after secretly buying up small parcels of land and trying to&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>EXCLUSIVE: Businessman accused of holding village &amp;apos;to ransom&amp;apos; 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