A squatter who launched a campaign of harassment against his former partner and her family after unlawfully taking residence on her property and dubbing himself the "Lord" of the manor has been sentenced to four years in prison.

Leo Deen, 61, initiated a feud with his ex when she tied the knot, informing her previous beau that he would need to vacate the caravan situated on farmland she owned in the Cheshire countryside. In Facebook messages, Deen refused to budge, embarking on a three-year struggle to remain, ominously warning: "The most dangerous man in the world is a man that has nothing to lose - a dog always has its day.'"

Subsequently, he penned letters to his ex's new husband and her late father, demanding sums up to £100,000. He staged rooftop demonstrations and displayed spiteful banners around the locality, revealing their personal information and airing his grievances.

The couple from Macclesfield, Cheshire, were so intimidated by Deen that they installed CCTV at their residence and refrained from venturing out or walking their dogs locally.

Deen was charged by police following an unlawful rooftop protest atop a council building, which necessitated emergency services to seal off the area. He had previously vacated the squat when bailiffs were dispatched to the premises, only to relocate to a rental property nearer to the couple's home, reports the Manchester Evening News.

In a chilling confession, Deen's former partner divulged: "Deen has been like a poison within my family and I still feel the ripples of his toxic influence today. I used to be able to sleep almost straight through but now I wake up several times during the night unable to get back to sleep.

"I constantly worry and feel anxious about what Deen is going to do next and I have a deep sense of dread in the pit of my stomach which I carry all the time.

"Over the past year I have been incredibly anxious, both me and my husband have lost weight. Deen's behaviour towards me and my family has been relentless."

Detailing the ordeal further, she revealed the tremendous strain Deen's actions put on her marriage due to constant arguments fuelled by stress. When Deen's social media onslaught became "particularly threatening", she recounted how they were gripped by fear, leading to the collapse of their social life, amounting to what felt like a "terror campaign".

She continued: "Although I felt safe at work I was worried about being followed and I had to inform my boss. At home, the doors were locked straight away and the cameras switched on. We were literally glued to the CCTV, panicking every time someone came down our driveway."

Her concern also extended to her 87 year old father who lived alone, with reduced mobility and hearing challenges. She expressed horror at the thought that Deen could stoop so low as to intimidate her elderly father, describing the notion as revolting. "When Deen was finally evicted from the land, he moved to an address just a few hundred yards from where we live. I believe he took great pleasure in situating himself so close, and the sense of dread was overwhelming."

In Chester Crown Court, Deen, who styled himself as Lord Timbersbrook after the Cheshire village where the farm is located, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated stalking and causing public nuisance. He was also found guilty of unrelated charges of attempted sexual communication with a child, following his apprehension for sending inappropriate messages to undercover investigators posing as a 15 year old girl.

Deen had been in a long-term relationship with his ex-partner, with whom he managed a nature reserve. However, they parted ways in 2015, and she began a relationship with her current husband the following year. Prosecutor Ryan Rothwell stated: "While the defendant and complainant were still together in the early 2000s, her parents purchased some Green Belt land at Timbersbrook near Congleton."

The intention was to build a home for the couple. However, planning permission was not granted, leading to a civil dispute between the council and the farm after their breakup.

The defendant continued to live on the land without permission, residing in a caravan. "I was worried also about my 87-year-old father being alone in the house. He had poor mobility and was hard of hearing and the thought that Deen could go so low to intimidate my elderly father was sickening."

In December 2020, [Deen's ex-partner] and her parents decided that the defendant should be evicted from the land. However, he refused to leave, leading to further civil proceedings. The defendant then posted on Facebook, referencing the complainants and stating he would only leave the land 'over his dead body'.

"Photos even depicted the defendant holding a mock firearm to his own head. Despite being served with a court order to vacate, he ignored it and remained on the property."

Instead, he and an accomplice visited [Deen's ex-partner's new husband's] workplace, presenting a letter demanding £32,000, along with a copy of court documents. Another letter insisted that the land be transferred to him, and the defendant began personally delivering letters to [his ex's] 87 year old father, demanding money.

"In one such letter, there were photos of [Deen's ex-partner] and her father in their home, taken without their consent. [She] found the defendant's actions disturbing.

In another letter, the defendant falsely accused [Deen's ex-partner] and her father of defrauding him of the land. ""He threatened to report them to the police and to expose his allegations on Facebook unless she paid him several tens of thousands of pounds.

In yet another letter, he mentioned [ex-partner's new husband] having upset some 'big people', and demanded hundreds of thousands of pounds as compensation. "I was worried also about my 87-year-old father being alone in the house. He had poor mobility and was hard of hearing and the thought that Deen could go so low to intimidate my elderly father was sickening."

In another letter, he threatened to carry out actions on the Green Belt land that would result in additional fines from the council, payable by [his ex's] father.

"Eviction notices were served to the defendant in September 2023, demanding him to vacate the land by October of the following year. However, his Facebook posts became increasingly hostile, with multiple updates daily.

"One post disclosed the home address of the complainants and the workplace of [ex's husband]. Another post ominously mentioned 'an eye for an eye' and declared that the 'gloves were off'. In a video posted around the same period, the defendant launched into an 11-minute tirade about his plans for 'revenge', once again revealing the complainants' address. In this video, he demanded £100,000.

"In yet another post, the defendant shared a picture of a grave and a spade, referencing [his ex's] father's home address and phone number. He was spotted driving past [ex's new husband's] workplace and the complainants' residence, causing significant distress to the complainants.

"Throughout October 2023, the defendant displayed banners around Macclesfield naming the complainants and directing people to his Facebook page for the 'full picture' of the 'injustices' against him. After the eviction process was finalised and bailiffs had visited the land, hay bales placed at the entrance gate to block access were set ablaze."

Deen was initially apprehended in October 2023 following a rooftop demonstration in Macclesfield town centre. He was granted bail but was subsequently arrested after another unlawful protest and was served with a Stalking Protection Order.

After violating it, he fled to Thailand before returning in June 2024 when he was held in custody.

In mitigation, Deen's barrister Max Saffman stated: "He believed an injustice was done to him in relation to the farm but he failed to step back and see the bigger picture. He failed to see the impact his behaviour had on Catherine and Robert. But there is no suggestion that he physically confronted them with his grievance.''During sentencing, Judge Mr Recorder Eric Lamb told Deen: "As a result of your behaviour you caused the complainants to have to change the area in which they were walking their dogs and you caused them to have to be in fear. You caused them stress and anxiety and they y had concerns for their safety.

That anxiety caused stresses and strains in their relationship. ''""The level of distress and psychological harm caused was persistent and over a prolonged period.

"After the case, Det Con Katie Ashcroft of Cheshire Police commented: "Throughout these events Deen has frequently presented himself as the victim of fraud and corruption; he tried to vilify the victims and present himself as wronged. This is in stark contrast to the reality."

''The evidence has shown Deen has used every means at his disposal to continually harass and intimidate his victims after they lawfully evicted him from their land to which he'd been refusing to leave. Deen's actions crossed the line from lawful protest, to stalking, not only impacting the victims he was targeting, but also his local community.''