Court resolves error after £90k sent to wrong person

A West Sussex couple have finally received money owed to them by a court after it was accidentally given back to the person the pair had sued.

Gilly and Nigel Cutts purchased a flat in High Street, Arundel, but made a claim against the building's owner after problems occurred.

They won the case in March but have only just received their money as the court inadvertently paid it back to the defendant, who has since been "uncontactable".

His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service has apologised for the error.

The couple bought the leasehold to the flat in December 2015. But they and other tenants began to notice issues, including water seeping through the brickwork.

"Whenever it rained hard, water would just pour in through the ceiling," Mr Cutts said.

"It got to the point where we'd dread the weather being wet."

Residents, including Mr and Mrs Cutts, grew so frustrated they took legal action against the building's owner, and in March last year were awarded £90,000.

But an admin error by Brighton County Court saw the money sent back to the defendant.

Now, after nearly a year of waiting, the funds has been paid to Mr and Mrs Cutts and the other tenants.

"The money is going back into the bank, money that should always have been there," Mr Cutts said.

"We're relieved and thrilled, but [the case] has cost a lot of money. It's gone on for years."

In December, a spokesperson for His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service apologised for the error.

"We've taken steps to prevent something like this from happening again," a spokesperson said.

The defendant was ordered to return the funds by a judge and referred to the police for investigation.

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