A BUSINESSWOMAN has claimed windows worth £14,000 have been removed from her home and are being “held hostage” following a dispute between her builders and their suppliers.

Phoebe Oliver’s extension in Brighton has been left windowless after the argument, which also resulted in her husband being arrested, fined and hospitalised with a broken foot.

The 40-year-old, who is the founder of PR company Oliver Relations, paid a building company to install the windows in an annexe in her garden in Surrenden Crescent, Brighton.

The windows had been put in but when she returned home last Wednesday, she found a gaping hole instead.

The fall out relates to a three-way dispute between her builder and two suppliers.

She said: “The whole situation is completely ludicrous. I don’t know who these people are but they’ve come on to my property. They were such amazing windows and I can’t run my personal training business like this. We just want them back.

“The money was from my dad’s inheritance so it is all quite personal to me.”

The windows are now at the Lancing warehouse of window and door specialist Sussex Bifold Doors.

Mrs Oliver called the police but after they did not take action, her husband, James, went round to get them himself.

A scuffle ensued at the Chartwell Road industrial estate and Mr Oliver was arrested and ordered to pay a £90 fine. He also accidentally broke his foot in the incident and spent the night in hospital.

Brighton-based builders Armstrong White was paid by the Olivers for the annexe. It said it has paid subcontractor, Brighton company D&L Property Maintenance, based on Church Road, to source the materials. For the windows, the property maintenance company commissioned Sussex Bifold Doors.

Lee Clowes, director at D&L, claimed he has not been paid by Armstrong White and has therefore been unable to pay Sussex Bifold Doors in full.

He said: “I am caught in the middle of an awkward situation and the windows aren’t really anything to do with me.”

A spokesman for Sussex Bifold Doors said it would keep the windows until paid in full. Armstrong White has since been back to secure the annexe.

Sussex Police officers were called after Mr Oliver made clear his intentions to attempt to recover the windows from the Lancing industrial estate.

However, chief inspector Dave Padwick said the dispute was now being dealt with as a civil matter.

  • D&L Property Maintenance Ltd is based in Church Street, Brighton. They are in no way connected to D&L Property Services Ltd, of Ashford Road, Brighton. An earlier version of this story incorrectly gave D&L Property Maintenance Ltd's address as Ashford Road and The Argus apologises for the error.