Neighbours of the millionaire who built "Britain's best man cave" have shared their relief after he was jailed for refusing to tear it down.
On Friday, Augst 12, Garham Wildin was l ocked up for failing to tear down the 10,000sq ft complex he built at his home in Cinderford, Gloucestershire.
The 69-year-old's lavish pad, dubbed "sanctuary", boasted a bowling alley, cinema, squash courts and a private bar.
But now after months of problems for neighbours, including not being able to park on the road or put their bins out after Wildin moved his car collection away from the complex, they are breathing a sigh of relief.
Wildin was jailed after failing to comply with a court order issued last June for illegally building the man cave on his land eight years ago without planning permission.
Wildin took the lengthy legal battle all the way to the High Court where a judge handed down an injunction back in 2018 and he was told he had until April 2020 to remove the 10,000sq ft complex.
Last year he also saw a failed attempt at the Court of Appeal to quash a suspended prison sentence given for not removing the structure and was given another deadline of March 10, 2022, to demolish the mammoth man cave.
Following his sentence, neighbours have expressed their relief after the mega-plot caused parking and bin collection woes for residents.
Some were "outraged" at not being able to park their cars in the street after Wildin decided to park his collection of classic cars outside his home because of the council’s order to soft strip the leisure complex.
Bin lorries and ambulances could not drive down the road and residents were often unable to drive to work due to their cars being blocked in by Wildin's vehicles.
One neighbour, who didn't want to be named, said: "This hopefully marks the start of justice being done but the problems for the neighbours aren't going to end overnight.
"It is the beginning of the end but nowhere near the end. At least some action has been taken as it has been a very stressful time for all the neighbours."
Speaking after the case deputy Forest of Dean council leader Paul Hiett said it had been a "long and complex road".
He said: "In what should have been a completely avoidable situation, Mr Wildin has continually ignored planning law and policies.
"The law is the law and we won't give up pursuing Mr Wildin and ensuring that he complies with the legislation 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 safeguarding the community."
Once Wildin has served his sentence, he will still be required to remove the additions to his home.
Since the erection of the entertainment centre neighbours explained WIldin has upset many on the road.
"He's not very well liked," one said.
''He's upset everybody on this road by flouting planning rules and then parking his collection of classic cars everywhere.
"He gets up everybody's back, and to him it's payback time for all the people on this road.
"We don't see him very often. It's just a shame because he used to be part of the community and would join us in street parties and stuff, but now he's just annoyed everyone on the road and treats us badly.
"I don't know how they're going to knock down the buildings now though he's give away his houses, but hopefully they will find a way."
