A castle owner known as the ‘Tipp-Ex divorcee’ is locked in a High Court libel battle with a tycoon who wants to develop housing in the grounds of her £6.75million home.
Sally Nightingale, 66, who took over the 900-year-old Cumbrian estate after her high-profile 2009 split from millionaire lawyer Christopher Nightingale, is being sued for libel over a letter she sent to planning officials.
She was dubbed the ‘Tipp-Ex divorcee’ after her lawyers accused her former husband of doctoring bank statements with correction fluid.
The former fashion consultant has described the property as a ‘poisoned chalice’ but went on to spend years renovating the estate, which now houses a museum, hotel and wedding venue.
She is now locked in a court battle after a Grade I-listed former stable block in the grounds of the castle was bought by property developer James Carlton through his company last year.
Mr Carlton claims that she tried to frustrate his plans to convert the stables into housing by writing a libellous letter to the local council’s planning department about work there.
The developer says the letter implies that he committed a criminal offence in removing historic flagstones from the grounds of the stables and that it has ruined his reputation.
His lawyers say he ‘has been seriously injured in his reputation and has been brought into public scandal, odium and contempt’.
Queen of the castle: Sally Nightingale with her dogs at the glorious 12th Century Appleby Castle in Cumbria
Sally Nightingale, 66, in 2016 outside London’s High Court during her high-profile divorce case
In interviews, the former fashion consultant previously described the property as a ‘poisoned chalice’ but went on to spend years renovating the estate, which now houses a museum, hotel and wedding venue
But Ms Nightingale, 66, is fighting the libel claim, denying that she damaged Mr Carlton’s reputation and claiming that she was only doing her duty by bringing to the council’s attention elements of the work on the property.
Ms Nightingale, who married her lawyer husband Christopher in 1984 and lived in Hong Kong and Singapore, before moving to Appleby Castle in the late 1990s.
They were married for 24 years and had three children, and at one point owned three castles.
In 2009 their marriage ended after Christopher left Sally for another woman, reported to be a Moroccan pole dancer, Massahine Bojji.
As a result Ms Nightingale was given the keys to Appleby, which boasts 22 bedrooms and 19 bathrooms, two great halls and a 15th-century dining room, while operating as a hotel and museum.
She went on to renovate and the house is now for sale for £6.75million.
On top of getting the castle, Christopher also agreed to hand over a quarter of his holding in a company he helped to found – a stake she said she was told would be worth about £1.5million.
To her surprise Christopher only gave her £83 after claiming the sale of his shares only sold for £330.
Christopher left Sally for another woman, reported to be a Moroccan pole dancer, Massahine Bojji, pictured
In the same year he got divorced, Mr Nightingale, pictured, gave Miss Bojji shares in his company, which worth said to be worth around £252,000 at the time
But Sally’s lawyers fought back, arguing that his bank statements show he actually received £6million from the sale, despite his attempt to use correction fluid on the statements to obscure the crucial deposits.
In the same year he got divorced, Mr Nightingale gave Miss Bojji shares in his company, which worth said to be worth around £252,000 at the time.
The Nightingales ended up agreeing to a confidential out-of-court settlement after five hours of private negotiations.
But she is now set for a court battle after property developer Mr Carlton filed his libel claim, seeking up to £10,000 damages at the High Court against her.
In claim documents, his lawyers describe him as a ‘prolific and experienced property developer’ who operates through his company, Chancellor Developments Limited, which last year acquired a Grade-I listed property known as ‘The Stable Block’ within the castle grounds.
James Carlton, through his company Chancellor Developments Ltd, submitted a planning application to Westmorland & Furness Council for major works on the historic stable block.
His solicitor, Williams Jones, said the proposals include ‘the restoration of decayed external and internal fabric, finishes, and service installations,’ along with the renovation of three existing vacant dwellings and the conversion of former single-storey stables into four new homes.
The plans also seek listed building consent for alterations and possible demolition within the protected site.
Sally, pictured, is now set for a court battle after property developer Mr Carlton filed his libel claim
According to Mr Carlton’s solicitor, Williams Jones, the libel claim centres on a submission Ms Nightingale made to the council last December, in which she wrote: ‘The new owner, seemingly unaware of the significance of these materials, removed the pile of historic flagstones from the site. This action resulted in the irreversible loss of another vital aspect of the stable block’s authentic historical fabric.’
Mr Jones argues that the statement implied Mr Carlton had carried out unauthorised works that harmed the architectural and historical integrity of the listed building.
He said the comments, published on the council’s planning portal, were potentially ‘extremely damaging’ and could influence the outcome of the planning application.
In her defence, Ms Nightingale denies the letter was an ‘objection’ to the planning application, claiming it simply outlined concerns she believed the council should consider.
She also rejects the claim that her words were defamatory, arguing they did not suggest Mr Carlton or his company had personally carried out any work that damaged the property’s historic character.
She also claims that what she wrote was her ‘honest opinion’ about ‘extensive work’ carried out by the previous owner of the property, not Mr Carlton or his company.
Mr Carlton’s libel claim was filed in May, with Ms Nightingale’s defence following last month, but the case has not yet appeared before a judge in court.
It will be listed at the High Court at a later date, unless settled by negotiation.