A retired teacher has claimed she was evicted from her £15,000 beach hut all because she was "too glamorous".
Michele Spicer became embroiled in a fierce row with locals over a number of issues, leading to court and the council intervening to remove her beloved "mermaid haven", in Goring-by-Sea, West Sussex, in October 2021
Just this week she appeared in court, where she denied breaching a harassment order against another woman.
Speaking previously in Worthing Magistrates’ Court, the 60-year-old retired teacher claimed her relationship with locals deteriorated after they became increasingly "jealous" of her car and model work.
But this week she denied breaching the order, granted last September, which stopped her from going within 200m of another woman, Victoria Harvey, or to the David Lloyd Gym in town.
Ms Spicer became the first person to be removed from a beach hut in 25 years after Worthing Borough Council removed the hut - which she purchased in April 2020 following her divorce.
This came about after fierce rows relating to a campaign she pushed to reopen a public toilet, accusations of antisocial behaviour and noise complaints, and the parking of her Mercedes - all of which drew the ire of locals.
She said that abusive notes and even dog poo was left on her car.
Despite the toilet sitting on council-owned land, locals had to pay a service charge for its upkeep, and disagreed with her campaign.
The notes called her an “idiot” and said she was “p******” residents off but she said she was entitled to park her Mercedes where she had been.
Her neighbours, who she described as bullies, eventually reported her to the council, but Ms Spicer maintained she had done “nothing but good for the community”.
Speaking at the end of 2021, she said: “I went to the beach hut one morning a few weeks ago and the locks were changed - then it was removed without my knowledge.
"I am just a beach hut owner quietly enjoying the area because it's good for my mental health - but neighbours started bullying me and conspiring against me.
"I don't think there is anything wrong with my parking - and I only tried to get a toilet re-opened.
"I did nothing but good for the community - but they're jealous of me because I'm glamorous. It feels like this has ruined my life - I've lost my beloved beach hut.
I didn't do anything wrong - but because I model and I have a nice car, they have a certain impression of me.”
During the recent trial, which was adjourned after prosecutors said they had not seen a defence expert report, she only spoke to confirm her name, date of birth, address and say she understood the case would not be heard.
But later speaking outside the court, she claimed “sparks are going to fly” and fireworks and champagne would be “popping” when she won.
The trial was adjourned to July 5 at the same court.
Ms Spicer also previously claimed it was a “conspiracy” against her, after the council intervened.
Worthing Borough Council said they had “no choice” but to intervene after receiving a significant number of complaints.
A spokesperson for Worthing Borough Council previously said: “We are sorry it has come to this but for the first time in about 25 years we have had to take eviction action at one of our beach huts.
“The number of complaints received from local residents really left us with no choice but to conclude that Ms Spicer has breached the terms of her lease.”
