Police are probing a suspected raid at a multi-million pound mansion that was seized from a bankrupt caravan park billionaire.
About nine officers were seen investigated a potential break-in at the luxurious Curbridge Heights villa, near Southampton, Hampshire, at 12.45am on Thursday.
The sprawling six-bedroom mansion was previously owned by wealthy tycoon Bob Bull, who claims he was forced into bankruptcy by a drugs cartel.
Mr Bull, 47,whose estimated fortune of £1.9billion took him to #88 on the Sunday Times Rich List in 2023, once boasted 12 supercars and shared the stunning mansion with his glamorous Norwegian wife Sara Nilsen, 32.
However, the lavish nine-acre home - which includes a swimming pool, tennis court,cinema room, bowling alley and gym - was seized and put up for sale in October amid Mr Bull's financial woes.
The entrepreneur dubbed 'Bungalow Bob' famously went from being too poor to buy a takeaway burger to billionaire status after turning caravan parks into bungalow villages with his company Royale Life.
But in late 2023, Bull was said to be in debt to the tune of £725 million and claiming he had been the victim of a campaign of hate by the Kinahans, a notorious Irish drugs family with links to deadly Mexican cartels.
Now police are probing an alleged break-in at his former £6.25million gated mansion, with the alarm reportedly having been raised by a security firm, remotely.
Robert Bull, who was declared bankrupt last year, and his Norwegian wife Sara (Instagram: @Saranilsen)
The couple were forced to give up their stunning Hampshire mansion after he went bankrupt in December 2023 with debts of more than £700 million
The Georgian style property sits on 9.12 acres of gated grounds and includes a garage for six cars
Hampshire Constabulary carried out a search at the property, inBotley Road, Curbridge, but couldn't find any intruders and nothing was reported stolen.
A police spokesman said: 'We were called at 12.45am on Thursday, April 17, to a report of a burglary at an address on Botley Road, Curbridge.
'It was reported that entry had been gained to a property. Officers attended the scene and carried out a search. No one was located.
'Nothing has been reported stolen.'
Speaking to the Sun, Mr Bull said: 'I don’t own the property anymore. It is just such a lovely home going to waste.'
The incident at Mr Bull's former Georgian-style mansion comes just weeks after it was revealed the businessman was facing a fresh legal battle over his property empire.
The latest legal row centres around the fall-out from a £34million loan he took out in 2021, which has resulted in a High Court lawsuit against two upmarket property firms and a solicitor, with the lender claiming Mr Bull's caravan parks were 'negligently' overvalued.
Mr Bull borrowed the money from MSP Capital, secured on seven of his caravan parks, but then defaulted on repayments, leaving the firm £40million out of pocket, according to a High Court claim.
'A great day for new beginnings. Exciting times ahead' Sara wrote back in June (Instagram: @saranilsen)
The house includes a pool with steam room and spa, gym, games room with a three lane bowling alley as well as a cinema room with seating for eight, among other things
The mansion even comes with a three lane bowling alley
A description of the property on Rightmove said: 'On entering you are aware that this is no ordinary home, the reception hall is vast with a central split flight staircase to the first and second floor.'
MSP Capital is suing chartered surveyors Savills (UK) Ltd and Avison Young (UK) Ltd, claiming they were negligent in valuing the properties. The finance company's claim is also against Birmingham solicitors Hadgkiss Hughes & Beale for alleged negligence and breach of contract.
MSP Capital made seven loans to Mr Bull between December 2020 and October 2022, secured against the caravan parks, and he planned to develop the sites by increasing the number of caravans on the site, it is claimed.
But after he went bankrupt in December 2023 with debts totalling £700 million, he now owes MSP more than £40 million after giving personal guarantees for the loans.
MSP says it would not have lent him any money if the valuation reports had not been made negligently, and claimed the sites did not have any planning permission or lawful development certificate for the intended use, or the planned development was not feasible, and the reports overvalued the properties.
Savills valued two of the properties, and Avison Young the other five, and the solicitors were instructed to obtain personal guarantees from Bull to provide certificates of title to the properties being valued, the claim says.
Lawyers Hadgkiss Hughes & Beale, based in Birmingham, were also allegedly supposed to check the sites had planning permission or certificates of lawful development.
MSC say Savills and Avison Young failed to provide reasonably competent valuations of the properties and did not search the local authority's database to check on the planning consents for the sites, and failed to advise MSP the development plans for the sites were not feasible, it is alleged.
The legal firm failed to draw MSP's attention to the fact that the planning permissions and lawful development certificates were not authentic, or were insufficient for the proposed developments, the claim says.
The entrepreneur dubbed 'Bungalow Bob' famously went from being too poor to buy a takeaway burger to billionaire status after turning caravan parks into bungalow villages
Some of the cars which the couple owned included aLamborghini Urus and a Bentley.'She has watched cars disappear off the driveway and never said a thing,' Bull said of his wife.
There is an outside kitchen with granite worktops to the preparation areas, a pizza oven and two BBQ's, in addition to an open fireplace.
The property has six bedroom suites all with contemporary bathroom suites from Porcelanosa
The leisure facilities a games room complete with raised seating areas, full bar and a three lane bowling alley
The caravan sites were worth far less than the valuations given and were inadequate security for the loans, says MSP.
MSP says Savills and Hadgkiss Hughes & Beale are liable for the difference between the market values they gave, and the true value of the sites, while the solicitors are liable for the difference between the market value of the sites at the date of the loans, assuming they had planning consent, and the true market value. The firm values its claim at more than £10million.
A spokesman for Hadgkiss Hughes & Beale said all allegations were denied and they had indicated to the Court and the other parties their intention to defend the claim.
Mr Bull's companies, which borrowed the money from MSP, defaulted on the loans and MSP has not yet managed to sell any of the properties, the court will hear.
MSP says that although both valuers try to limit their liability for their reports, these limits are unenforceable and unreasonable, arguing that the firms should pay the full extent of any losses upheld by the court.
Mr Bull revealed last October he had commissioned a team of former Scotland Yard detectives to compile a dossier on his nightmare.
Mr Bull revealed last October he had commissioned a team of former Scotland Yard detectives to compile a dossier on his nightmare. He is pictured with his wife, Sara
The raised sitting area which the Hampshire property going for £6.25m boasts of
A description on Rightmove said: 'There are three reception rooms in this area along with a fabulous open plan family/kitchen/breakfast room'
They concluded 'Mr Bull has been the victim of a conspiracy to defraud him, to destroy his £4billion caravan, bungalow and holiday parks business'.
It alleged the perpetrators have benefitted to the tune of £46million and that constant threats made to his family led to the death of his father, also named Robert.
Mr Bull said he was fighting to overturn the bankruptcy and claimed he had secured over £1billion of funding to get the business back on its feet.
'If I don't appeal the bankruptcy, I'm finished,' he said.
'I'd rather jump out that window than let that happen because that is dishonouring my dad's grave, dishonouring all my beautiful family.'
Hampshire police said it is appealing for witnesses or those with information about the alleged break-in at Mr Bull's former mansion to contact them on 101 quoting the reference number '44250166780'.
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
