UK man's castle won't be his home, court says

[February 03, 2010]  LONDON (AP) -- A man's home is his castle -- but not if the authorities say it has to be destroyed.

That's the problem facing Robert Fidler, who Wednesday lost a High Court appeal to prevent his once-secret castle from being destroyed.

Fidler built the castle without planning permission and concealed it behind bales of straw while he and his family lived there.

The fantasy home in Salfords, Surrey, 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of London, includes ramparts and cannon.

Planning authorities found out about the unauthorized structure in 2006, after Fidler and his family had already spent four years living there.

Officials say he cannot be allowed to benefit from his intentional deception of planning authorities.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.