Business advisor is discovered responsible of harassing wine entrepreneur neighbour over plans to remodel £850,000 house
A business consultant who harassed his wine entrepreneur neighbour over plans to transform her £850,000 home has been spared a jail sentence.
Julia Stafford and her City lawyer husband Samuel Tempest Brooks found themselves at loggerheads with neighbours after they announced radical plans to develop an Edwardian former water works into a grand family home on Hill House Drive, Richmond-upon-Thames.
It was during the neighbourhood war that Robin Christie, 65, started a campaign of ‘harassment and intimidation’.
During one heated altercation caught on camera, Christie can be seen grabbing metal railing outside Ms Stafford’s house – erected as part of illegal construction work – before she starts kicking in his direction.
A section of the railing is then sent crashing to the ground and Ms Stafford turns her frustration on another resident, who had been protesting alongside Christie.
On separate occasions, Christie also followed Ms Stafford onto her side of the wall, attached bike locks to her security fencing and wrote a 16-page letter to her husband.
Ms Stafford, 44, told Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court: ‘The defendant’s actions have had a profound and lasting effect on me and my family emotionally, psychologically and financially.
‘[He] encouraged other residents to film, stalk and harass us. We were told that police, local councillors and our MP would be weaponised and do everything they can to stop the build and stop us living there.’
Christie was handed a ten-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months, and must complete 200 hours community service after he was found guilty of harassing Ms Stafford between July 1 and September 28, 2024
Julia Stafford leaving Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court. She told the court that Robin Christie, 65, started a campaign of ‘harassment and intimidation’ during a neighbourhood planning dispute
Robin Christie, 65, is pictured leaving Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court – he has been convicted of harassment after a row with neighbours over their planning application but has been spared jail time
Business consultant Robin Christie, 65, grabbed onto metal railings – in a bid to stop Julia Stafford’s illegal construction work. The scuffling pair are pictured here
Ms Stafford and Mr Brookes’ home in the conservation area was at the centre of the planning row
Deputy District Judge Patricia Evans ruled Christie had ‘utterly lost perspective.’
He must comply with a five-year restraining order prohibiting contact with the couple and going to their property. Christie was also ordered to pay £650 costs and a £154 victim surcharge. Ms Stafford made no application for compensation.
Speaking from the dock, Christie said the conviction had ‘already had a profound impact on my livelihood’ and that the ‘reputational consequences have been severe’.
The couple have now separated and their construction project has since been thwarted, with the property now on the market for £999,950.
Ms Stafford told the court she felt ‘distressed, humiliated and unsafe as a result of what happened’.
She added the ‘false narratives repeated and criminal allegations’ had caused ‘lasting anxiety about my reputation, my estranged husband’s reputation, his sole income and the future impact on my family’.
The bitter fallout started on July 5, 2024, when Ms Stafford began erecting security fencing on the residents’ side of the dividing brick wall, claiming her land extended into Hill House Drive.
The couple had obtained planning consent on appeal, after objections from Christie and locals, for a huge subterranean development and two-storey extension, but this did not include the wall demolition.
There were numerous confrontations between Ms Stafford and other neighbours, with one caught on film as Christie interfered with the erection of security fencing, and Ms Stafford shouting at the neighbour filming, ‘You stupid woman!’
She told the court Christie and another neighbour approached her and ‘were verbally abusive’.
She added: ‘They told me I was causing problems and being a nuisance. Robin Christie was inciting it. He was the instigator behind it and representing himself as some sort of legal authority and that he knew what he was talking about.’
She can also be heard telling Christie he was an ‘old man’ in danger of a ‘heart attack’ for physically blocking her plan to fence off the wall, pending demolition.
Another video captured Ms Stafford furiously hacking at the disputed wall with a small pickaxe.
Christie (centre) with fellow neighbours in Hampton. Despite his conviction, Christie enjoys the broad support of his fellow homeowners
Ms Stafford said she feels ‘distressed, humiliated and unsafe’ as a result of her ordeal with Christie
Christie told the court he intends to appeal the conviction, explaining: ‘The boundary wall at the centre of the conflict was subject to planning control and many residents were concerned about the potential loss of a protected feature and the effect it would have on the cul-de-sac and their families.’
He insisted he only joined the campaign after several concerned residents asked him for help ‘navigating the quite complex boundary wall and planning issues that were involved’.
‘My intention throughout was to help the community understand and manage a difficult situation, not to pursue any individual,’ he said.
Leader of Richmond-upon-Thames council Gareth Roberts told the court that demolition of the boundary wall by Ms Stafford without additional planning permission would have been unlawful.
‘The wall was in the conservation area and she had no permission to demolish this wall,’ he said in evidence. ‘She believed it was implicit she could demolish the wall, but that was not the case.
‘She was agitated and angry and would stress her opinion that she was correct. It would have been a breach of planning if she demolished the wall.’
Estranged couple Julia Stafford and Samuel Tempest Brooks had paid £850,000 for an Edwardian former waterworks property in Hampton Village, south-west London
Yesterday, prosecutor Barto De Lotbiniere asked the judge to place the offence in the highest category, submitting Christie intended to ‘maximise fear and distress.’
‘Multiple threats were made over a period of a few months and this offence is aggravated by the impact on others, namely Mr Brooks and their young son, who was present on one occasion.’
The people of Hill House Close continue to support Christie, despite the conviction, with one 27-year resident saying last week: ‘It would have changed the whole community. We would have constantly had lorries up and down.
‘We have children playing outside, the children are riding their bikes. I stand by Robin, who has become our spokesperson,’ said the woman, who does not wish to be identified.
‘There is a massive sense of relief, but until the property is sold and they are gone, none of us can really relax here. The road is unsuitable for HGV’s, even cars can barely pass.’
There is even a road sign near the entrance to the close, which reads: ‘Unsuitable for HGVs’, however the couple planned for their large lorries and plant machinery to access their site via this route.
Another resident of 12 years, said this week: ‘It has clearly affected life here and has especially affected my mental health due to the behaviour and bullying.
‘That is a strong word, but who would rock up at a little cul-de-sac with bulldozers and just think they can do what they want? It is not acceptable.’
The woman added: ‘There have been fires lit on the site with toxic smoke coming across to us when their workmen were burning the contents of whatever was in that old building.’
Christie’s partner Naz has stood by Robin during his prosecution, explaining: ‘This is an amazing place to bring up children and the building works through here would have destroyed the neighbourhood.
‘Her behaviour was atrocious and we felt we were being thrown out of our little cul-de-sac by people with money.’
Ms Stafford claimed the dispute caused her PTSD, sleepless nights, panic attacks and a feeling of being under constant threat from Christie.
