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Police investigate damage to Diabetes UK repossession house

Fundraising | Becky Slack | 1 Dec 2007

The dispute between Diabetes UK and retired banker Arthur Bennett has entered a new phase following the discovery that the house repossessed from Bennett by the charity has been subject to considerable criminal damage.

Diabetes UK and Mr Bennett have been locked in a legal battle spanning almost 20 years after the charity sued him for setting up the Diabetes Foundation, claiming his organisation’s name was too similar to its own. In 1995 it won the case and was awarded more than £700,000 in costs.

“We were awarded an order to take possession of the property and dispose of it in order to recap the funds we had spent on the case,” said Douglas Smallwood, chief executive of Diabetes UK. “However, when we went to the property we found it had been severely damaged. The property is now for sale but the damage has devalued it.”

As well as graffiti and smashed windows and walls, there was an indication that the property had been primed so that it would catch fire.

Diabetes UK is unwilling to comment on who it believes is responsible for the damage.

PF has seen a blog written in the name of Sarah Luffy, understood to be Bennett’s daughter, which appears to describe the vandalism taking place.

In an entry dated 22 July, it reads: “I should inform you of the freak accident which occurred this morning to Diabetes UK’s achievement...Someone (uh-hum, not mentioning any names) accidentally drove their car through the garage wall.”

Further posts are made throughout the summer including one on 16 August which reads: “I think it’s in Diabetes UK’s interests to know that whilst their one million pound property was being trashed and after the alarm went off for half an hour... the boys in blue turned up...”

And then again on 28 August 2007: “Dear Diabetes UK, you do know that someone has removed the large double glazing window at the front bedroom of your property? (Removing a window from a property belonging to a charity - absolutely disgraceful!!!). Not only that, it appears as though Michael Myers has popped by and taken an axe to the white wooden panes on the front of your house too. Much love, Sarah.”

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: “I can confirm that an investigation is being carried out following an incident of criminal damage that occurred at an address in Tennison Road SE25 on 27 July 2007. Croydon CID are investigating. Inquiries are continuing but no arrests have been made at this stage.”

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