Graham Wildin, from Cinderford, Gloucestershire, was jailed for six weeks by a High Court judge for contempt of court following a hearing in Cardiff. He had failed to comply with court orders to remove it, having previously been warned several times to tear down the compound behind his home in the Forest of Dean. The ‘man cave’ includes a bowling alley, cinema, squash courts, private casino and bar and was first built in 2014. It then sparked a long-running planning dispute with Forest of Dean District Council and led to Mr. Wildin at Cardiff Civil Justice Centre. Mr Wildin, 69, reportedly bought the surrounding houses for his family and was accused of going to war with his neighbors to do anything to try and save the 10,000 square meter leisure complex at the back of his home. . Mr Wildin claims he thought he didn’t need permission when he started construction, but council officials said the building was in breach of planning laws (SWNS) Sources said land registry records showed properties at the front and side have been transferred or sold to a company owned by other members of Mr. Wildin’s family. However, after an eight-year battle, he was ordered by the courts to destroy the complex. In bond proceedings last year, he was found in contempt of court for failing to comply with restraining orders. He was given a six-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months, on condition the complex was permanently stripped and decommissioned within 18 weeks. The appeal was dismissed and Mr Wildin was given until March 10 this year to comply with the order. Mr. Wildin’s cave was equipped with a bowling alley (SWNS.com) Deputy council leader Paul Hiett said: “The enforcement case against Mr Wildin has been a long and complicated road. “In a situation that should have been completely preventable, Mr Wildin has consistently ignored the legislation and planning policies that exist to protect local communities. “The law is the law and we will stop at nothing to pursue Mr. Wildin and ensure he complies with the law in exactly the same way as everyone else. “As a council it is important to ensure that development proposals improve the environments in which they exist whilst protecting the community. Every year, hundreds of people ask the council for planning advice and follow it. This was not the case with Mr. Wildin. “I would again like to thank the people of the Forest for their patience and the tenacity of council staff who continue to push this case forward. “To protect local communities from behavior such as we have seen in this case, we will continue to pursue those who ignore planning policy using the routes set out in the legislation.” Once Mr. Wildin has served his sentence, he will have to remove the building.
