Sheep farmer facing jail over ‘secret’ that meant she could live with animals
Sheep farmer Helen Lowe is facing up to two years in jail for her 'secret' which allowed her to live with her beloved animals.
Lowe, 59, built a house inside one of her barns on her Derbyshire farm, and has said she is a victim of a 'witch hunt'.
The devoted farmer said she built the structure in order to look after the sheep she tends on her 40-acre farm.
She insisted she had also paid council tax for the house, too.
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Lowe told the Daily Mail that it wasn't anything fancy or a mansion: "It’s a temporary building to look after my sheep when they’re lambing. It’s not Windsor Castle" or a 'luxury hideaway'.
After the house was discovered, a legal battle has been raging for six years between Lowe and Derbyshire Dales District Council.
Lowe has now been found guilty of contempt of court, as they say she failed to stop living in the house after being ordered to.
Contempt of court could land Lowe up to a two year sentence, an unlimited fine or she could possibly face both.
The council says Lowe has been living in the home since 2020.
They maintain that the structure was concealed inside the barn in order 'to avoid detection'.
She argues: The council says it was concealed – but it wasn’t concealed at all.”
The farmer insists the home was visible, ad that friends and family knew about it, and she paid taxes so couldn't have been hiding.
“It wasn’t like I was living the high life. And the council knew I was here because I was paying council tax – even though I don’t get a bin”.
In 2020, the council served their first enforcement notice, saying she didn't have planning permission for the property.
A representative for Derbyshire Dales council said it 'has secured a successful contempt of court ruling against Ms Lowe, who built and lived in an unauthorised dwelling concealed inside an agricultural barn.
“This case shows the serious consequences of ignoring planning rules and failing to get the correct permission before carrying out development.
“The planning system only works when everyone follows the same rules. It is not acceptable for a few people to disregard the process while most comply.”
She moved into the building during the first Covid lockdown.
Lowe appealed the notice but lost, with her case being dismissed in February 2022, and she was ordered to not use the home again.
She continued to use it, alleges the the council, so they sought a court order in September 2024.
The council then began contempt proceedings in July.
A trial on May 18 found Lowe to be guilty of contempt and has ordered her to pay £10,000 of the council's costs.
Lowe has called it a 'witch hunt' and said the council till pursued their case even after she broke her leg in 2024.
"My priorities have been my animals, and that is what has got me into trouble," she insisted.
“They’ve got to have spent hundreds of thousands, wasting money. It’s ridiculous.”
The council said Lowe was instructed to demolish the house, but did not.
Lowe will be sentenced on August 18.
Jen Thomas