Glamorous sheep farmer faces jail after secretly building second home inside barn on her 40-acre farm - despite paying council tax

By JOHN SIDDLE and JORDANA SEAL, NEWS REPORTER Published: 23:32, 7 June 2026 | Updated: 23:33, 7 June 2026 A sheep farmer faces jail after secretly building a second home inside an agricultural barn on her 40-acre Derbyshire farm.  Helen Lowe, 59, was found guilty of contempt of court after failing to comply with orders to stop living in the makeshift unit. Derbyshire Dales District Council said she built and had lived in the home without planning permission since 2020 claiming she 'deliberately hid it to avoid detection'. She faces the prospect of up to two years in jail, an unlimited fine - or both - after being found guilty at trial of flouting a court order to cease living there. However Ms Lowe has now hit back at what she described as a 'witch hunt' by 'persistent' council officials. She insisted her home was not a luxury hideaway but a basic space to enable her to live in close proximity to her animals, who require tending to daily. Ms Lowe said: 'It's a temporary building to look after my sheep when they're lambing. It's not Windsor Castle. 'It's just got facilities in it, a bed, windows. The council says it was concealed - but it wasn't concealed at all. Helen Lowe, 59, was found guilty of contempt of court after failing to comply with orders to stop living in the makeshift unit Ms Lowe insisted her home was not a luxury hideaway but a basic space to enable her to live in close proximity to her animals, who require tending to daily 'You could clearly see it. All my friends knew I was here looking after the sheep.' 'It wasn't like I was living the high life. And the council knew I was here because I was paying council tax - even though I don't get a bin.' The council first served an enforcement notice in 2020 after ruling that the home had been constructed without planning permission inside an agricultural barn at Ms Lowe's farm. She had previously been living in a nearby bungalow but sold it, before moving in during the Covid lockdown. Ms Lowe appealed the notice, but the independent Planning Inspectorate dismissed her case in February 2022 and ordered her to stop using the building as a home. When she failed to do so, the council later secured a court order in September 2024 requiring her to stop living in the barn. But officials said she continued to occupy the building and failed to carry out the required demolition works, prompting the authority to launch contempt proceedings in July 2025. Following a trial at Nottingham County Court on May 18, Miss Lowe was found guilty of contempt. Derbyshire Dales council was awarded £10,000 in costs - though the full cost through the six year dispute will dwarf that modest sum. The sheep farmer claims the dispute has has been misrepresented and has had a devastating impact on her life Ms Lowe described the enforcement action as a 'complete waste' of taxpayer cash and that she had been seen as an 'easy target' by town hall officials. She said: 'It was only built because I needed facilities here, and then during Covid I ended up staying longer. 'My priorities have been my animals, and that is what has got me into trouble. 'They've got to have spent hundreds of thousands, wasting money. It's ridiculous.' Derbyshire Dales council said the court ruling 'show shows the serious consequences of ignoring planning rules and failing to get the correct permission before carrying out development.' A spokesperson said: 'The planning system only works when everyone follows the same rules. It is not acceptable for a few people to disregard the process while most comply.' But Ms Lowe claims the dispute has been misrepresented and has had a devastating impact on her life. She claimed the council pursued enforcement action in 2024, while she was in hospital having fallen from her horse and sustained a broken femur. The farmer added: 'There was no significant financial investment in creating the accommodation. Much of it was constructed over time using recycled, reclaimed or surplus materials already available on site or given to me at no cost. The windows, doors, insulation, floorboards, kitchen units and many other items were second-hand, salvaged or donated. Water is supplied from a natural spring rather than mains water. 'It was never intended to be a luxury home. It was a simple, practical space which enabled me to remain close to my animals, particularly during lambing and other periods when they required frequent attention. 'The cost of removing the structure is difficult to estimate, but it will represent a significant financial and practical burden for me given my circumstances, and last year whilst ill I simply couldn’t face it. 'I would also like it to be understood that I remain under ongoing medical care. Following my serious accident in April 2024, in which I fractured my femur, I had to relearn how to walk and continue to deal with complex health conditions. Throughout these proceedings I have sought to keep both the Court and the Council informed of my medical position, and I have relied on assistance from others because of my health difficulties and the impact that these matters have had on me. 'Despite everything, North Park Farm remains my happy place and the place where I care for my animals.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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