A family were left distraught after buying their dream home for £1.5m - as the previous owner "gutted" it before they left, leaving it looking like a "war zone".
Martin and Sarah Caton bought the idyllic Grade II* listed manor house in 2014, but soon their dreams were dashed as when they arrived they realised the house had been stripped bare.
The previous owner of Bochym Manor in Helston took doors, windows, floors and even fireplaces - alongside historic stained-glass windows and part of the rich wood panelling of the 10-bedroom gothic-revival home's famous library.
The couple have since faced a nine-year legal battle and finally won a magistrates' court order to have items seized by the police returned to them.
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Truro Magistrates Court concluded that the previous owner, Dr Payne, had "systematically" removed anything he could and said his thoroughness was exhibited by the photos from the surveyor's report that were in "stark contrast" with those from the estate agent brochure.
Speaking after the case, Martin, 50, said he was relieved the nightmare had reached a conclusion - but described it as a "somewhat hollow victory."
He said the total added cost of the whole saga had been a further £1.5m.
He said: "After completion, I travelled to the property with friends and we were met with a scene of utter destruction. It was like a war zone.
"The inside was barely recognisable. Doors, panels, bathrooms, kitchens and floors had been torn out.
"Two of the external doors had been removed and the property was not secure.
"Rubbish had been left in piles inside and outside the property. This destruction had extended to the external buildings and gardens. The holiday cottages had been gutted with trees cut down and garden structures taken away.
"Most of the curtains and carpets we had paid for had also been removed that had been paid for in addition to the purchase price.
"It was difficult to actually comprehend and take in. I was totally distraught."
Martin said the move to Cornwall was planned during a natural break in his career as a lifestyle choice as he wanted to bring his children up there while running a wedding and holiday cottage venue.
During two five-hour viewings he said although some maintenance was required, he noted no physical damage to the property or surroundings.
After waiting eight months from exchange of contracts to completion, and almost withdrawing due to various issues being raised, the family eventually took full ownership on August 14, 2014.
On discovering the damage, Martin said he immediately reported it to Devon and Cornwall police and had a survey carried out to document the carnage before the lengthy cleanup could begin.
They also reported the destruction to Cornwall Council and Historic England.
Martin said that whilst Historic England expressed shock at the state it was left in they said they do not pursue cases such as this.
In April of the following year, Dr Payne was arrested and some items were seized following a search of his property and local containers. The items were put in police storage while they carried out their investigation.
Martin added: "These were just a fraction of the items removed from the property.”
"The police built a case for prosecution and planned to share the process with the legal department of Cornwall Council. Many years of meetings and discussions followed but ultimately no action was taken by either party."
The police decided in late 2020 that keeping the disputed items in storage was no longer viable and recommended that the Police Property Act was used to establish ownership.
Following the court ruling these have now been returned to Mr and Mrs Caton.
He added: "My wife and I have spent a great deal of time and money restoring the property and safeguarding it for the future.
"We were very grateful to the court for making the order to return these items to us so we can continue to preserve this historic property."
Among the items returned were cast iron guttering, framed stained glass windows, slate floor slabs, wooden bookshelves, decorative items, carvings, panels and doors.
In making the ruling, magistrates said: "He took the floors, the doors, the bricks, the veranda, the toilets and so on.
"We are satisfied that they are the permanent parts of Bochym Manor, what in essence made it Bochym Manor and they are part of the property Mr and Mrs Caton purchased."
Dr Payne was also ordered to pay costs to Devon and Cornwall Police but not to Mr and Mrs Caton.
He had failed to appear or supply any evidence at Truro Magistrates' Court.
He said after the case he was preparing to appeal against the ruling and denied committing any offences stating: "Had I committed any criminal damage, had I committed any theft, had I committed any offences under the Planning Act, I would have been prosecuted.
"Otherwise everything is just hearsay, innuendo and suspicion."
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