Couple’s dream home is court

If Oliver Sneath and Dorota Szafalowicz have their way the former Spalding Magistrates’ Court will be their dream home. The couple, both employed in the food industry, have become the court’s new owners after sealed tender bids were invited for the building by the Ministry of Justice. It took 11 months of viewings, bidding and negotiating to seal the deal, but now Oliver and Dorota can call themselves the “wards of court” – in Spalding at least. Dorota said: “When we bought the building there were two different reactions from people. One group said ‘this is too much’ and ‘why couldn’t you buy a normal house?’, whereas other people said ‘this is really amazing’ and ‘we really admire your determination’.”