Parliament bell ringer ordered to sell his £1m Fulham home after refusing to pay a PENNY of £129,500 court debt

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

Adrian Udal, 66, master bell ringer at St Margaret's Church beside Westminster Abbey, demolished the front door and roller gate of his new neighbour's £2m Fulham mews cottage on the very day they completed the purchase in August 2023. High Court judge Deputy Master Martin Dray ordered the forced sale of Udal's property after hearing he had told his neighbours he had "no intention" of paying and had not handed over a single penny. Nicholas Partick-Hiley, a retired financier, and his wife Lisa, 63, had planned the Disbrowe Road cottage as their dream retirement home before Udal's act of destruction pitched them into a three-year legal battle.

Judge Parfitt previously branded Udal's demolition of the gate 'carefully pre-planned wanton destruction' — and Udal still skipped Friday's High Court hearing entirely.

Udal owes £129,500 in damages and costs, with daily accruing interest — a bill that continues to grow while he refuses to engage.

Deputy Master Dray told the court: 'He has disclaimed any liability to pay one penny piece' — leaving the judge no choice but to order the £1m home sold.