Drug addict trashed late granddad's Shropshire home to force 'devastated' family to sell for bargain price
A drug addict caused more than £100,000 of damage to a late grandfather’s old home on the orders of dealers so it could be “snapped up for a bargain price”.
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David Holford left a scene of “absolute carnage” at Osbaston Cottage in Crabtree Lane, High Ercall, after a son and daughter, who inherited it after their father had died suddenly, spent two years renovating it to be sold.
They had agreed to sell the home, which held “many happy memories”, for £525,000, but ended up having to settle for £435,000 after Holford caused £108,000 worth of damage. The home has since been sold again for more than £800,000.
Shrewsbury Crown Court was told how the owner died in December 2021 and left the house to his son and daughter, who spent “a great deal of time and money” improving it before putting it on the market in January 2023.
On June 7, 2023, a passing lorry driver spotted that windows had been broken, so called the estate agent to inform them.
“Police did go in the house and found a scene of absolute carnage,” said John R Oates, prosecuting.
It was later discovered that Holford had smashed 27 out of 28 windows of the four-bedroom countryside home, ripped pipes out of the walls and punctured holes into hot water pipes, causing water to flow throughout the house.
“It was totally uninhabitable and unsellable without a substantial reduction in price,” Mr Oates added.
Bloodstains and footprints from Holford’s trainers tied him to the scene of the crime.
