Millionaire jailed for illegally building giant man cave could face jail again

Accountant Graham Wildin, 70, was sent to prison for repeatedly refusing to knock down the extension - which he did not have permission for before building.

Emily Cleary
Updated ·3-min read
Graham Wildin inside the leisure centre he has built for himself and his family in his back garden. (SWNS)
Graham Wildin inside the leisure centre he has built for himself and his family in his back garden. (SWNS)

A millionaire who illegally built "Britain's biggest man cave" could be facing jail again as his latest court deadline expired – with neighbours dubbing him an "arrogant little twerp".

Accountant Graham Wildin, 70, was sent to prison for repeatedly refusing to knock down the extension, which he did not have permission for before building.

He built the 10,000 sq ft leisure complex, which has a bowling alley, casino and a cinema at the back of his home without applying for planning permission from Forest of Dean District Council (FODCC).

Wildin, of Cirencester, Gloucestershire, was jailed last year for failing to comply with a court order to decommission the building, after an eight year battle to keep it.

Graham Wildin could finally be caving in after a removals van was spotted on his drive - on a crucial court deadline day. (SWNS)
Graham Wildin could finally be caving in after a removals van was spotted on his drive - on a crucial court deadline day. (SWNS)
Graham Wildin transferred ownership of neighbouring houses to a company run by his children. (SWNS)
Graham Wildin transferred ownership of neighbouring houses to a company run by his children. (SWNS)

He was given 18 weeks from his release from prison to comply with a previous court order to make the giant leisure complex unusable by "soft stripping" the inside – the deadline expired last Friday – 27 January.

It is unclear if any work has been done, although removals vans were spotted there in recent weeks.

However if it is not fully stripped he may be sent back to prison again.

However, officials could delay a decision until Wildin's appeal against the prison term at Court of Appeal on 1 March.

Last April a company owned by members of Wildin's family acquired the properties that surround the building in a bid to save the vast leisure complex.

GV of the leisure centre Graham Wildin has built for himself and his family in the back garden of his house. See SWNS story SWBRcave; A man ordered to knock down 'Britain's best man cave' which he built illegally in his back garden has been told to pay £30,000 to the council to cover its prosecution costs. Graham Wildin, 66, spent four years battling with authorities over the private leisure complex. It contains a bowling alley, cinema, casino and a gym - and pictures from Google Earth show it looking like a massive factory. But a High Court judge said the granddad-of-five must comply with the council and remove the centre.
The private leisure complex houses a bowling alley, cinema, casino and a gym. (SWNS)

After initially moving his classic car collection onto the street to create "parking chaos" it emerged that he purchased neighbouring land and property for his family in order to block any attempts by the council to have it forcibly removed.

Posting online, social media users were scathing about Wildin's repeated refusal to knock the building down.

One said: "How much is this man costing the taxpayer?"

General view of the rear of property owned by Graham Wildin in Cinderford. See SWNS story SWCAVE; A millionaire accountant who built a controversial 'man cave' in his garden is being hauled to court -- after defying council notices ordering him to tear it down. Graham Wildin, 66, caused outrage when he built the 10,000sq/ft leisure centre, including a bowling alley, a 16 seat cinema, squash courts, private casino and bar. The grandfather-of-five claims he thought he did not need permission when he started construction but council officials said the expensive project breached planning laws. Forest of Dean District Council planners said the 'bulky structure' is 'totally out of scale and proportion with the surrounding development'.
The rear of property owned by Graham Wildin in Cinderford, Gloucestershire. (SWNS)
File photo - Graham Wildin. See SWNS story SWCAVE; A millionaire accountant who built a controversial 'man cave' in his garden is being hauled to court -- after defying council notices ordering him to tear it down. Graham Wildin, 66, caused outrage when he built the 10,000sq/ft leisure centre, including a bowling alley, a 16 seat cinema, squash courts, private casino and bar. The grandfather-of-five claims he thought he did not need permission when he started construction but council officials said the expensive project breached planning laws. Forest of Dean District Council planners said the 'bulky structure' is 'totally out of scale and proportion with the surrounding development'.
Graham Wildin could be jailed if his 'man cave' has still not been demolished. (SWNS)

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Another said: "I blasted well hope so, arrogant little twerp!"

One added: "Tick tock....knock, knock...it down."

GV of Graham Wildin's property on Meendhurst Road, Cinderford, March 10 2022 See SWNS story SWBRcave. A millionaire who illegally built 'Britain's best man cave' in his garden could face jail - after the latest deadline to tear it down expired today (Thurs). Wealthy accountant Graham Wildin, 69, has been embroiled in a long-running planning row after he installed a bowling alley, cinema, squash courts, private casino and bar in the plush extension eight years ago. He didn't have the correct planning permission and a lengthy legal fight followed ending with a High Court judge handing down an injunction in 2018. He was initially given until the end of April 2020 to remove the 10,000sq/ft complex.
Graham Wildin's property on Meendhurst Road, Cinderford, Gloucestershire. (SWNS)
A council spokesperson said they couldn't comment due to the ongoing legal proceedings.
A council spokesperson said they couldn't comment due to the ongoing legal proceedings. (SWNS)
A High Court judge has said the granddad-of-five must comply with council orders and remove the centre. (SWNS)
A High Court judge has said the granddad-of-five must comply with council orders and remove the centre. (SWNS)

But others had sympathy with him.

One wrote: "Poor sod - why cant people just leave him alone."

An FODDC spokesman said: “This is an ongoing legal matter and the council will continue to pursue it.”

Wildin was approached for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.

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