Jeremy Cowdrey, son of Colin Cowdrey, sues neighbor for allegedly sabotaging his house sale with false claims.
Jeremy claims Vanessa lied about his property, aiming to get money from him. Her alleged actions cost him the sale. He claims she lied about flooding and utility issues, and also says she reignited a settled tennis court dispute.
He is suing her for around £350,000, including damages for “malicious falsehood,” and wants an order to stop her harassment. Vanessa denies all claims, asserting that she acted fairly with her neighbor and tried to mediate disputes well.
His property, Crowbourne Farm, is near Vanessa’s barn and includes a farmhouse, cottage, and studio. It also features a barn, carport, tennis court, and lakes. He listed it for sale in June 2023.
His lawyer argues that Vanessa made false claims, hurting the potential sale of Jeremy’s home by speaking of covenant breaches on his land. They claim Vanessa falsely asserted flooding issues and faulty water and sewage services, and allege that a tennis court dispute, previously settled, was claimed to be ongoing.
Jeremy says he had a £3.85 million offer and that Vanessa’s actions made buyers back out. Vanessa denies his accusations in court. She says flooding issues started in 2022 after Jeremy raised concerns about a nearby lake. She claims the flooding now affects both homes, blaming a poorly maintained overflow in one of Jeremy’s two lakes.
A judge rejected Jeremy’s bid for higher compensation, though he can still pursue damages. The judge believes Vanessa tried to extort money by allegedly making false claims during the sale.
Jeremy’s father, Colin, was a famous cricketer made a peer for his services to the game, and known for his batting style. Jeremy worked as a stockbroker for 20 years before switching to film production where he helped create “Summer in February.” His brothers, Chris and Graham, played cricket, with Chris also playing six Tests for England.
The case will return to court to schedule a trial at a later date.