Business consultant is found guilty of harassing wine entrepreneur neighbour over plans to transform £850,000 home

A business consultant who harassed his wine entrepreneur neighbor over plans to transform his £850,000 home has avoided a prison sentence.

Julia Stafford and her council solicitor husband, Samuel Tempest Brooks, found themselves at loggerheads with neighbors after announcing radical plans to transform a former Edwardian water works on Hill House Drive in Richmond-upon-Thames into a large family home.

It was during the turf war It was learned that 65-year-old Robin Christie started a ‘harassment and intimidation’ campaign.

During a heated argument caught on camera, Christie is seen grabbing the metal railing outside Ms Stafford’s home – built as part of illegal building work – and then kicking it towards her.

Part of the railing then crashes to the ground, and Mrs. Stafford directs her frustration at another resident who protests alongside Christie.

Christie also followed Mrs. Stafford to her side of the wall on some occasions, installed bike locks on security fences and wrote a 16-page letter to her husband.

Miss Stafford, 44, told Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court: ‘TThe defendant’s actions had a profound and lasting impact on me and my family emotionally, psychologically and financially.

‘[He] encouraged other residents to film, follow and harass us. ‘We were told that the police, local councilors and our MP would be armed and would do everything they could to stop the construction and prevent us from living there.’

Christie was given a 10-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and must complete 200 hours of community service after he was found guilty of harassing Ms Stafford between July 1 and September 28, 2024.

Robin Christie, 65, pictured leaving Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court – found guilty of harassment but avoided a prison sentence after a row with neighbors over planning applications

Business consultant Robin Christie, 65, clung to metal railings in an attempt to stop Julia Stafford’s illegal construction work. Here is the photo of the couple fighting

Miss Stafford and Mr Brookes’ house on the reserve was at the center of the planning row

Deputy District Judge Patricia Evans ruled that Christie had ‘completely lost perspective’.

He must comply with a five-year restraining order banning contact with the couple or going to their property. Christie was also ordered to pay £650 costs and a £154 victim surcharge. Ms Stafford did not seek compensation.

Speaking from the stand, Christie said the conviction had “already had a profound impact on my livelihood” and “the reputational consequences are severe”.

Couple they have now separated and their building project has since been blocked, the property is no longer on the market For £999,950.

Ms Stafford told the court she ‘felt distressed, humiliated and unsafe as a result of the events’.

She added that the “repeated false narratives and allegations of wrongdoing” had led to ‘persistent concern about my reputation, my estranged husband’s reputation, his sole income and the future impact on my family’.

The bitter fallout began on July 5, 2024, when Ms. Stafford began erecting security fences on the residents’ side of the dividing brick wall, claiming that her property extended to Hill House Drive.

The couple had won planning approval on appeal for a major underground development and two-storey extension, over objections from Christie and local residents, but this did not include wall demolition.

There were numerous conflicts between Mrs. Stafford and other neighbors; one of which involved Christie interfering with the erection of security fences and Mrs Stafford shouting at her neighbor during the shooting, ‘You stupid woman!’ He was filmed yelling.

He told the court Christie and another neighbor approached him and ‘became verbally abusive’.

He added: ‘They told me I was causing trouble and being a nuisance. Robin Christie was instigating this. ‘He was the instigator behind this and he was representing himself as some kind of legal authority and he knew what he was talking about.’

He can also be heard telling Christie that he was an ‘old man’ in danger of a ‘heart attack’ for physically obstructing his plan to fence off the wall awaiting demolition.

Another video shows Ms Stafford furiously hacking at the controversial wall with a small pickaxe.

Christie (center) with her neighbors in Hampton. Christie has broad support from fellow hosts despite conviction

Ms Stafford said she felt ‘distressed, humiliated and insecure’ as a result of her ordeal with Christie

Christie told the court he intended to appeal the conviction, explaining: ‘The boundary wall at the center of the conflict was subject to planning control and many residents were concerned about the potential loss of a protected feature and the impact this would have on the cul-de-sac and their families.’

He emphasized that he only joined the campaign after several concerned residents asked him for help ‘navigating the rather complex border wall and planning related issues’.

‘My goal was not to go after any individual, but to help the community understand and manage a difficult situation,’ he said.

Richmond-upon-Thames council leader Gareth Roberts told the court it would be unlawful for the boundary wall to be demolished by Ms Stafford without additional planning permission.

As evidence, he said, ‘The wall was within the conservation area and there was no permission to demolish this wall.’ ‘He believed it was certain he could bring down the wall, but that wasn’t the case.

‘He was excited and angry and emphasized his view that he was right. ‘It would be a breach of planning if it demolished the wall.’

Separated couple Julia Stafford and Samuel Tempest Brooks paid £850,000 for a former Edwardian waterworks in Hampton Village, south-west London.

Yesterday, prosecutor Barto De Lotbiniere asked the judge to put the crime in the highest category, arguing that Christie’s aim was to ‘maximize fear and distress’.

‘Multiple threats were made over a period of several months and the offense was aggravated by the impact on others, namely Mr Brooks and, on one occasion, his young sons who were present at the incident.’

The people of Hill House Close continue to support Christie despite the conviction; One 27-year-old resident said last week: ‘It would change the whole community. We would constantly have trucks coming and going.

‘We have children playing outside, children riding bicycles. “I stand with Robin, who has become our spokesperson,” said the woman, who wished to remain anonymous.

‘There’s a tremendous sense of relief, but none of us can really relax here until the property is sold and they’re gone. ‘The road is not suitable for heavy vehicles, even cars can barely pass.’

There is even a road sign near the entrance to the enclosure that reads ‘Not suitable for heavy vehicles’, but the couple planned for their large trucks and factory machinery to access their site via this route.

Another resident of 12 years said this week: ‘It has clearly affected life here and it has affected my mental health, particularly due to the behavior and bullying.

‘That’s a strong word, but who thinks they can just go into a little cul-de-sac with bulldozers and do whatever they want? This is unacceptable.’

She added: ‘As his workers burned everything in that old building, toxic fumes were coming towards us and fires were breaking out on the site.’

Christie’s partner Naz sided with Robin at the prosecution, explaining: ‘This is a great place to raise children and the building work here would destroy the neighbourhood.

‘His behavior was very cruel and we felt like we were being pushed out of our little predicament by people with money.’

Ms Stafford claimed the dispute led to post-traumatic stress disorder, sleepless nights, panic attacks and a feeling of being under constant threat from Christie.