Stuffed fish row will not stop £4.2m Fordingbridge farm sale

An exchange of vintage stuffed fish did not show "undue closeness" between a trustee and a trust beneficiary, a judge said (Stock image)

A man has won the right to buy his late parents' farm after a judge dismissed claims of improper conduct involving stuffed fish.

Alister Cutts, 51, was offered Folds Farm near Fordingbridge, Hampshire, through a trust, the High Court heard.

However, his family challenged the £4.2m price, adding that exchanges of stuffed fish between Mr Cutts and a trustee were a sign of favouritism.

The judge, Master Julia Clark, said the fish allegation was "unarguable".

Mr Cutts and his three sisters were all beneficiaries of the trust established by their parents Oliver and Susan Cutts, the court was told.

The trustees wish to sell the farm to Mr Cutts, with the proceeds then being split between the remaining beneficiaries.

However, a "deep rift" existed between the siblings, the judge heard.

Folds Farm near Fordingbridge was valued in 2023 at between £6.4m and £10.1m

In 2023, estate agents valued the 340-acre (1.4-sq-km) farm at between £6.4m and £10.1m, Master Clark heard.

However, the trustees proceeded with their offer to Mr Cutts, the director of Earlcote Construction and Plant Hire, as the only way of keeping the farm in the family and paying off debts, the judge was told.

His sister, Victoria Delville-Cutts, told the court her brother was being given an "irrational discount".

Master Clark rejected her claim, adding that there was no evidence of bias towards Mr Cutts by any trustee.

In her written ruling, she said Mr Cutts had bought a vintage stuffed pike for £950 for one of the trustees, which was apparently in return for the earlier purchase of a stuffed chub.

The judge said: "The suggestion that these dealings show a level of closeness between [trustee Paul Cutts] and Alister which would affect [the trustee's) conduct as a director the trustees is in my judgment unarguable."