I let my “daughter” stay in my house – now she claims it’s hers and refuses to leave… I want her out now

A retired ambassador who let his “surrogate daughter” stay at home now claims the woman is refusing to leave home.

David Gladstone is desperate to evict Lee White, 55, from his property after allowing him to move out to help run the house.

3

3

Sri Lanka’s former high commissioner, David, said she and Mr. White became friends in the ’90s and as he got older, she became involved in managing the property. Telegraph report.

Wotton House, a Grade I listed mansion worth £15 million, boasts the gardens of Sir Tony Blair and Capability Brown as neighbors.

David inherited the estate when his wife died in 2014 after living in the family for over half a century.

However, David now feels that the property has been taken over by Mr. White and is distressed enough to escalate the matter to court.

During their two-week trial in the High Court, the two allegedly became friendly over their common interests, including Sri Lanka, theater and classical music.

Ms White claims that, starting around 2007, David repeatedly promised her that Wotton House and two other properties in his £20m portfolio would go to her when he died. .

However, David disagrees and is suing Ms. White, who now lives in the house with her son and husband, for ownership of the house.

White’s agent, Penelope Reed KC, said at lunch at the National Liberal Club last year, “David asked her if she would take over Wotton when he and April died. It was reasonably understood that it meant to do.”

It was alleged that David’s inheritance plans only changed “unexpectedly” when he moved to Cumbria with new wife Mary during the first lockdown.

Reid claims David explained his desire to move into the house with Mary, revealing that his will was rewritten, leaving White with nothing.

David’s barrister, Tracy Angus KC, claims that there was never an agreement for Mr. White to inherit the house, and any inference that this is the case is a misnomer.

“Ms. White refused to move, instead apparently deciding that the house was her and her son’s primary residence.”

KC added that White had joined her husband “at some point in 2022.”

she said:

“Regardless of who is to blame for this, David cannot return to Wotton while Mr. White is there and it would be unfair to lock him out of the house.”

In addition to the house, David is also demanding the return of approximately £800,000 in bonds that he transferred to Mr. White.

KC claims these were handed over when she was “outperforming him” due to his age.

A judge will rule on the case at a later date.

3