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Old 26-03-2010
johnhunter
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Default Australian millionairess takes on sheep farmer

Found this when I googled confused.com on uk google news site; quote from the Daily Record national newspaper:

"
Sheep farmer defies millionaire and refuses to quit home

Mar 21 2010 Exclusive by Stephen Stewart, Sunday Mail

A DEFIANT farmer has vowed to fight a millionaire internet tycoon trying to kick him out of his home on her £3million estate.

Confused.com founder Kate Armstrong and her lumberjack husband Malcolm are trying to get Will Connell to quit his home of 13 years.

Will lives in a cottage on the 295-acre Cassillis Estate near Maybole, Ayrshire, which the couple bought last year.

The Armstrongs last week took their battle to Ayr Sheriff Court after Will, 65, defied evicition notices.

He said: "This is my home. I have been here for years.

"They haven't actually given me any reason for kicking me out other than they claim it is a short tenancy and the lease is up so I should now simply go.

"The Armstrongs bought the place last year and almost immediately asked everyone to surrender their leases. It seems they just want to get rid of their tenants easily and quickly.

"My solicitor wrote to them pointing out that I had kept sheep here for 12 years and that was interpreted as an agricultural holding and entitled me to be here.

"They issued me six notices to quit in November last year alone.

"Whatever they have in mind for the estate, it doesn't seem to include me and my sheep."

High-flier Armstrong worked for Admiral Insurance when she was appointed to launch its confused.com website seven years ago.

The IT expert, from Sydney, became managing director of the Cardiff car insurance comparison site.

She met Malcolm in London in 1998 when he travelled from Scotland to help with the clean-up after major storms.

Their home - historic Cassillis House - boasts five reception rooms, 12 bedrooms and is set in 295 acres of woods and parkland.

For two centuries, it served as a fishing lodge attached to Culzean Castle, seat of the Marquess of Ailsa.

Previous occupants include the Marchioness of Ailsa, who lived there until her death three years ago.

The Armstrongs' court action is expected to last several weeks. They could not be contacted for comment."

Isn't she a Sidney girl made good?
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