Son’s bid to jail mum in £10m caravan park feud

A MILLIONAIRE businessman wants to have his mother jailed amid a bitter feud over a family business.

Michael Loveridge fell out with parents Ivy, 75, and Alldey, 78, in a row over who controlled their £10million chain of caravan parks.

Michael, 50, won after taking them to court in May – but has now launched a plea to the Appeal Court to act, after claiming his parents continue to interfere.

His lawyer Brian Averill told a preliminary hearing: “Michael, with tremendous misgiving and great upset, is applying to commit his mother to prison but he doesn’t know what else to do.”

At the centre of the row is a “solvent, highly profitable and cashrich” chain of caravan parks and businesses in Bewdley,Worcs.

Michael argued in court that he had built the business up from “modest” beginnings and did all the “important” work in growing the family fortunes over the last 20 years.

But despite his claims, Ivy and Alldey remain majority shareholders in some of the family’s most valuable firms and held the reins of power until Michael took them to court.

Birmingham Judge Patrick McCahill QC granted orders in relation to the business partnership and the

Bitter...the family’s caravan park empire is at centre of row between mum Ivy and Michael, right with wife Suehelen

five firms.The two orders handed control of the everyday running of the partnership to Michael and banned his parents from “interference” in the partnership or the companies.

It also restrained Ivy and Alldey from trying to reclaim money.

Penal notices were attached to both orders, meaning the couple could face jail if they are proved to have breached them.

Mr Averill, explaining Michael’s bid to commit Ivy to prison, claimed that since the orders there had been

“unseemly episodes of shouting and bullying of staff” and “unseemly behaviour by his parents”.

He added: “Michael expects legitimately to control these companies and enjoy the full financial benefit of his shareholding. Ivy and Alldey are so far anti-Michael they would do anything to destroy him, including harming his interests and their own interests.”

The couple are appealing against the orders, claiming they have been unfairly ousted and are “wrongfully kept out of control” of the businesses, which “represents their life work.”

Lance Ashworth QC, for the parents, said: “It is important to emphasise that there is no proven or admitted history of extremely troublesome behaviour.

“Nor is there any evidence whatever that Ivy or Alldey have been involved in any wrongdoing since the company injunction was granted.”

Unless the case can be resolved out of court the family will return for a full hearing later this year.