An illegally built £48million palace on the French Riviera that hosts parties for the rich and famous has to be demolished within 18 months after an appeals court sided with a British couple.
Chateau Diter is a beautiful Tuscan-style property nestled among green hills and gardens between the opulent cities of Monaco and Cannes in the South of France.
It needs to be torn down because its tycoon owner, Patrick Diter, failed to get planning permission before it was constructed in a protected wooded area in 2005, the Aix-en-Provence court of appeal ruled on Monday.
The 14-year legal battle had been launched by British millionaires Stephen and Caroline Butt - along with other disgruntled neighbours of Mr Diter - after seeing a tower and a pavilion pop up and their property damaged.
The British couple, who are hedge fund managers in London, were appalled when the millionaire started hosting disruptive mega parties for the rich and famous.
Speaking to the Telegraph on Tuesday, Mrs Butt said she was 'delighted' with the ruling and hoped it would end Diter's 'construction frenzy'.
She and her husband - reported by Paris Match to have a fortune worth up to half a billion pounds - were each awarded £15,000 in damages.
French businessman Diter now has 18 months to demolish the estate, which was often used by oligarchs and their loved ones for weddings and film production companies for more than £40,000 per day.
Diter has been fined more than £350,000 although he has escaped the three-month suspended prison sentence, he initially received according to The Local France.
If the palatial property is not knocked down in 18 months, he will face fines of up to £500 a day, French media
MailOnline
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