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Carlisle judge allows bailiffs to seize items in Tito Jackson debt row
By Phil Coleman
Last updated at 12:16, Thursday, 04 February 2010
A legal battle involving the older brother of pop legend Michael Jackson has entered a new phase after a Carlisle judge gave bailiffs permission to seize goods from one of his pals in the UK.
Tito Jackson
The claim was made at the city’s county court against Tito Jackson – a member of the original Jackson 5 – by celebrity bodyguard Matt Fiddes.
He accused Tito of failing to repay £12,000 of a £20,000 loan he says he gave the star.
Mr Fiddes’ lawyer, Nicholas Richards, of Cartmell Shepherds, said a High Court sheriff in Middlesex has seized goods from Ron Winter Productions so they can be auctioned to settle the debt.
The move comes after Mr Fiddes alleged that Tito needed to borrow money to pay for flights for himself and his family from California to the UK, where he was due to make a Channel 4 documentary.
Mr Winter yesterday denied a suggestion that he was Tito’s UK agent, saying that he was simply a friend who had tried to help the star.
But Mr Fiddes, who said his decision to sue Tito was supported by Michael Jackson before his death, said: “Tito was one of my closest friends and it’s such a shame that it’s come to this. I took this action through the court in Carlisle because I wanted to avoid publicity and embarrassment.
But Tito didn’t want to admit to the press that he had taken a loan for £20,000 from me and that hurt me. He was one of my closest friends. It’s not about the money – it’s about the principle.”
Mr Fiddes said he now intends to pursue Tito for the legal costs of the case, which he believes will exceed the value of the debt. Combined with court costs, the debt owed currently stands at £17,000.
A county court judge in Carlisle approved the seizure of goods and the ruling was acted on last Friday.
Tito Jackson did not file a defence when the case was considered by a judge in Carlisle last year.
But Ron Winter said the arrival of bailiffs at his offices in Wembley last Friday had left him deeply unhappy.
He said: “We were dragged into it at the end of last year when Fiddes got a third party debt order because of my personal relationship with Tito.
“He had a default judgement against Tito.”
Mr Winter said Tito had asked him to get involved and he simply tried to help.
Mr Winter, who suggested the evidence against Tito for the claim was “flimsy,” said the company named by the bailiffs who seized goods was now dormant and he expects to have his goods returned by the end of the week.
By Phil Coleman
Last updated at 12:16, Thursday, 04 February 2010
A legal battle involving the older brother of pop legend Michael Jackson has entered a new phase after a Carlisle judge gave bailiffs permission to seize goods from one of his pals in the UK.
The claim was made at the city’s county court against Tito Jackson – a member of the original Jackson 5 – by celebrity bodyguard Matt Fiddes.
He accused Tito of failing to repay £12,000 of a £20,000 loan he says he gave the star.
Mr Fiddes’ lawyer, Nicholas Richards, of Cartmell Shepherds, said a High Court sheriff in Middlesex has seized goods from Ron Winter Productions so they can be auctioned to settle the debt.
The move comes after Mr Fiddes alleged that Tito needed to borrow money to pay for flights for himself and his family from California to the UK, where he was due to make a Channel 4 documentary.
Mr Winter yesterday denied a suggestion that he was Tito’s UK agent, saying that he was simply a friend who had tried to help the star.
But Mr Fiddes, who said his decision to sue Tito was supported by Michael Jackson before his death, said: “Tito was one of my closest friends and it’s such a shame that it’s come to this. I took this action through the court in Carlisle because I wanted to avoid publicity and embarrassment.
But Tito didn’t want to admit to the press that he had taken a loan for £20,000 from me and that hurt me. He was one of my closest friends. It’s not about the money – it’s about the principle.”
Mr Fiddes said he now intends to pursue Tito for the legal costs of the case, which he believes will exceed the value of the debt. Combined with court costs, the debt owed currently stands at £17,000.
A county court judge in Carlisle approved the seizure of goods and the ruling was acted on last Friday.
Tito Jackson did not file a defence when the case was considered by a judge in Carlisle last year.
But Ron Winter said the arrival of bailiffs at his offices in Wembley last Friday had left him deeply unhappy.
He said: “We were dragged into it at the end of last year when Fiddes got a third party debt order because of my personal relationship with Tito.
“He had a default judgement against Tito.”
Mr Winter said Tito had asked him to get involved and he simply tried to help.
Mr Winter, who suggested the evidence against Tito for the claim was “flimsy,” said the company named by the bailiffs who seized goods was now dormant and he expects to have his goods returned by the end of the week.
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