Man whose house was 'stolen' gets possession back

A reverend whose location was sold without him knowing has had the spot returned to him astir 4 years on, aft a household was ordered to leave.

Rev Mike Hall returned to his Luton location from Wales successful 2021 to find idiosyncratic impersonating him had sold it connected for £131,000, aft his individuality was stolen.

The Land Registry accepted responsibility and enactment his sanction backmost connected the title, but erstwhile helium returned again successful 2023 helium found a household surviving there.

At Luton County Court connected Monday, Judge Elaine Vignoli granted Mr Hall outright possession of the location successful 14 days.

Mr Hall said helium was "quite aggravated astir the mode successful which this has played out", and "quite sad" for some himself and the household surviving there.

While moving successful northbound Wales successful 2021, Mr Hall was alerted by neighbours that idiosyncratic was successful his location and each the lights were on.

Mr Hall drove backmost to Luton and recovered a caller proprietor carrying retired gathering work.

"I tried my cardinal successful the beforehand door, it didn't enactment and a antheral opened the beforehand doorway to maine - and the daze of seeing the location wholly stripped of furniture, everything was retired of the property," helium said.

BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme obtained the driving licence utilized to impersonate Mr Hall, details of a slope relationship acceptable up successful his sanction to person the proceeds of the sale, and telephone recordings of a antheral claiming to beryllium Mr Hall instructing solicitors to merchantability the house.

After helium reclaimed ownership 2 years later, a BBC newsman visited the location and spoke to a antheral and a pistillate with a young kid who had a bogus rental contract.

Mr Hall went to Luton County Court to instrumentality possession of the location erstwhile more. A woman, pursuing proceedings done a Romanian interpreter, and a kid besides attended.

Mr Hall's lawyer, Lewis Colbourne, said determination were "two guiltless parties successful court".

The occupants had been told by constabulary 18 months agone to halt paying rent, which did not spell to Mr Hall, and the justice heard an probe remained ongoing.

The tribunal was told the occupants did not reason the exertion and the justice granted Mr Hall possession and that "persons unknown" indispensable wage his costs.

Mr Hall said: "I americium rather bittersweet that the [woman] has present got to find a caller location for herself."

You tin perceive to the afloat interrogation with Mr Hall connected Radio 4's You and Yours astatine 12:00 GMT connected Wednesday.