What was meant to be a peaceful retirement for a former banker and his wife quickly turned into a legal nightmare—all thanks to a neighbor who didn’t take too kindly to a gate being put up.
Nicholas Partick-Hiley, a retired financier, thought he and his wife Lisa had found their dream home in a £2 million mews cottage tucked away in Fulham, west London.
But on the very day they were set to move in, they found their new neighbor, Adrian Udal, tearing down the front gate and door of their new property.
A Shocking First Encounter
Partick-Hiley couldn’t believe what he saw when he arrived on completion day in August 2023.
According to court documents, Udal—who has lived in the neighboring property for over three decades—was actively dismantling the gates, accompanied by another man.
To make matters worse, they were also disconnecting the wiring that powered key services to the home.
No warning was given, and even the presence of police couldn’t stop the demolition.
It was, as Judge Nicholas Parfitt later described, “carefully pre-planned” and an act of “wanton destruction.”
The Bellringer Behind the Chaos
Udal isn’t just any neighbor—he’s the Secretary of the Belfry at St Margaret’s Church next to Westminster Abbey, where he’s helped ring in the New Year since 2000.
He’s well known in the bellringing community, and his wife Helen is also a bell tower captain.
But none of that softened the judge’s view of his actions.
According to Udal, he had every right to remove the gates because they were on land he owned.
The Partick-Hileys’ property is accessed via a passageway that goes under Udal’s house—land he owns but over which the couple has legal right of way.
A Legal Dispute Over Land and Gates
The dispute quickly escalated into a courtroom battle.
The Partick-Hileys filed for an injunction and damages, claiming they had the right to install gates for privacy and security.
They had even contacted Udal’s solicitors two months before the move to let him know they planned to replace the old gates and were open to suggestions on design.
But rather than cooperating, Udal allegedly took it upon himself to plan and carry out the destruction.
He bought his own metal gates in July—weeks before the completion—and installed them after tearing out the old ones.
Judge Condemns “Sugar-Coated” Excuses
In court, Judge Parfitt didn’t hold back. He called Udal’s actions “an inappropriate and wrongful act of wanton destruction.”
He even criticized Udal’s attempt to describe the act as “returning” the gates to the previous owner—saying it was a way of sugar-coating what was clearly deliberate vandalism.
Udal, representing himself via video link, argued that he was asserting his property rights.
But the judge wasn’t convinced, especially as Udal continued to act even after being told the new owners objected.
Legal Costs and Court Orders
The consequences were heavy. Udal was ordered to:
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Pay £85,000 upfront towards the Partick-Hileys’ legal costs (estimated to exceed £100,000)
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Pay £10,000 in compensation
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Remove the new gates he installed within two weeks
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Allow the couple to install their own gates—as long as he still has access through the area when needed
His own legal bills remain undisclosed, but they’re expected to be significant.
Still Planning to Appeal
Despite the judge’s clear condemnation, Udal isn’t backing down.
He has indicated that he plans to appeal the ruling, though no further details have been provided.
For now, the Partick-Hileys can at least enjoy a bit more peace of mind knowing the law is on their side—and that they can finally put their own gates up at the home they were so eager to move into.