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Millionaire boss called to account in dumping row
[March 29, 2006]

Millionaire boss called to account in dumping row


(The Mail on Sunday Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)AS the controversial millionaire boss of a beleaguered finance group, he has faced frequent calls for his resignation.

But Charles Thomson, chief executive of Equitable Life, is facing hostility closer to home - in a row with his neighbours.

For the past nine months, the 57-year-old finance chief has left a pile of old bathroom fittings outside the Ayrshire mansion he shares with his lover Verity Coutts, 29, and their baby.

But now fed-up Margaret Hossack, who owns two cottages attached to Mr Thomson's Victorian home near Ayr seafront, may take legal action over the eyesore on herdoorstep.

Last night, Miss Hossack told the Mail on Sunday: 'From the moment they moved in, life around here changed. I'm very much a live and let live type of person but friends keep telling me I'm an idiot to put up with this.

'Appealing to his sense of decency hasn't worked and any requests to remove the sanitary ware have fallen on deaf ears.

'Enough is enough and I am now considering legal action.' The debris, consisting of baths, sinks and toilets was left by workmen after renovation work at Morrison House, which Mr Thomson bought for about GBP1 million two years ago.

It has been left piled in a small courtyard onto which Miss Hossack's front door opens.

'All last summer our access and parking were blocked by their tradesmen, which I accepted - not that there was an apology for the inconvenience,' Miss Hossack said.

'I just can't understand why they bought a house with other properties attached to it as it seems they don't wantto live close beside others.

'Quite possibly he's got ulterior motives. He left a message on my mobile expressing an interest in buying me out. I believe he's trying to buy the flat at the back.

'He suggested in the message that if he didn't get total possession of all Morrison House properties he would be applying to the council to permanently separate them from his house.

' Now he has applied to erect a 2.4-metre wall between us, which in my opinion would look ridiculous.' Mr Thomson has faced controversy since taking over at Equitable Life in 2001. There were calls for his resignation after the mutual racked up a legal bill of GBP45 million in a failed attempt to sue 15 former directors and the group's auditors for GBP3.7 billion.



He also faced embarrassing headlines three years ago over his affair with Miss Coutts, his ex-secretary. He and Pamela, his wife of 35 years, are now divorcing.

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