Crime hit owner in CCTV bid

A builder who transformed a derelict Black Country church into a £1 million des res has had to fork out for CCTV to protect the property after repeated attacks by vandals and thieves.

Dean Marks says the former church in Lower Church Lane, Tipton, has become a target for troublemakers and blames a right of way which runs past the house for the problems. He is calling for Sandwell Council to close the pathway once and for all after claiming his car was stolen by late-night raiders.

Mr Marks says his purple Saab convertible car was recovered by police after thieves broke in to his home and took the keys.

Now he says enough is enough and is calling on the police to support his bid to close off the right of way.

Since Mr Mark's building project featured in the Grand Designs TV show in April last year, the 37-year-old has been locked in a long-running argument over access to the churchyard where his home, the Georgian St Martin's Church, is sited.

He owns the church and its grounds, but most of the former churchyard is leased to Sandwell Council as public open space, and a path through the site is used as a designated route to school for youngsters at nearby St Martin's Primary School.

According to Mr Marks, the council is failing to maintain the site properly and safely, and renovation work including the removal of one tree has left dangerous holes.

At one stage his concerns caused Mr Marks to take matters into his own hands and close off access to the open space, although the barriers have since been removed.

Mr Marks said vandals had repeatedly attacked his home and had attacked stained glass windows.

He said he had had to step up security at his home, and even put in CCTV cameras.

"On December 28 they broke into the church and they pinched my car," Mr Marks said. "They came through from the footpath which Sandwell Council want to keep open."

Cabinet member for safer communities Councillor Derek Rowley said: "The footpath is well used by schoolchildren and we want to keep it open."