Ukrainian refugees who have fled their homes could soon find themselves living in the shadow of a £50 million stately home.
Billionaire Phones4U founder John Caudwell, 69, has offered to put up a displaced family at his Staffordshire estate.
One of Britain’s biggest philanthropists and among the UK's biggest taxpayers, Caudwell lives at Broughton Hall with his cyclist girlfriend Modesta Vzesniauskaite, 39, and their son.
Speaking to HELLO! magazine, John said: "I feel heartbroken for the people whose lives have been destroyed,"
"Picture yourself in that situation. You've got no home, and the fear of death and being murdered on the street is constant. It's beyond comprehension."
Calling the UK Government’s slow response to Russia ’s invasion ‘embarrassing’, John, a leading Tory donor, tweeted: "I’d like to host a Ukrainian family to live in the grounds of my estate.
"As Eastern Europe struggles to address the worsening crisis, I urge wealthy individuals to step up and offer shelter in their homes.’
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He added: "They'll have their own, two-bedroom apartment here, with all utilities and food as long as they need it. I want to help and suspect the experience will be humbling and deeply enriching for me as well.
Poignantly his partner Modesta has her own experience of her country being invaded by Russian forces.
Modesta, 39, who is mum to Leo, nine, and one-year-old William - her son with John, grew up in Lithuania.
She recalled the 'fear and trauma' that occurred after the Soviet Union attempted to occupy her country on Bloody Sunday in 1991.
At least 13 people were killed and more than 140 injured after Soviet military forces invaded the Baltic republic.
She told the magazine how she sympathised with the children fleeing the violence, saying: "I know from experience the fear and trauma that the children and families in Ukraine are going through. It's a feeling of terror I will never forget.
"On Friday 11 January 1991 when I was eight years old an alarm went off at school and a teacher said, 'Run home quickly! The Russians are coming to occupy Lithuania.'
"I was terrified and ran so fast. For three days my family sat in the house feeling terrified.
"The Russian soldiers passed through my city to take the capital Vilnius and a lot of people were killed. But thank God that two days later Lithuania found freedom."
Ms Vzesniauskaite was in Russia visiting her sick father when the Russian invaders entered Ukraine.
On her return back home, she told her partner that they 'had to help' the children and women forced to leave their husbands behind and flee.
Humble beginnings
Mr Caudwell, who sold his Phones 4u empire for £1.5billion, grew up in Stoke-on-Trent, with his mum working in a post room, while his dad was employed by an engineering company.
He also owns Britain's most expensive home - a £250millon Mayfair mega-mansion, which includes a 120-capacity ballroom, 15 bedrooms, bar and cinema.
It was previously two homes knocked together - one of which was previously owned by Prince Jefri, brother of the Sultan of Brunei.
It contains an indoor river with fish, and a vertical garage to show off his vintage motors.
Dad at 69
He has six children: Rebekah, Libby, and Rufus, with his former wife, Kate McFarlane; Scarlett with violinist Jane Burgess; Jacobi, 16, with Claire Johnson, his partner for 15 years; and now baby William, who is one year old.
In 2021, he told the Times that he found becoming a dad again later in life "psychologically" challenging because he feared not being "around long enough to teach my values and my ethos and to help them be successful in whatever way.
"I'd like to be around for William when he's 18, to help him find his path in life and teach him all the things that I believe in. So, from that point of view, that's a negative.
Caudwell previously declared he plans to leave 70 per cent of his wealth to charity.
"They'll still be filthy rich," he told the Mirror in 2015. "They can still ruin their lives."
Near-death accident
Caudwell suffered a near-death accident in 2021 while cycling in Tuscany, where he shattered his shoulder, collarbone, ribs and hip.
Previously he lost a testicle to cancer. But it is his love of extreme sports that means that he has broken his neck three times - once in a bike accident, once in a racing car, and once on a trampoline
