... as housing boss lives in a sprawling country pile
STUART Monk’s vast estate and sprawling 18th century home – with its black door and brass knocker – stand as testament to his journey to become one of the country’s richest men.
The property tycoon’s house, known as The Manor, is in the village of Carlton-in-Cleveland – only 11 miles from the rundown streets where many asylum seekers live,
The 66-year-old and his wife Jennifer, 64, bought it more than 20 years ago without a mortgage.
Along with their two children, they own Jomast outright. Mr Monk has overseen its rapid growth since founding the firm in 1971 after finishing his studies.
He sits atop a fortune thought to total more than £175million while his huge network of companies boast assets of more than £240miilion. Mr Monk’s wealth puts him at 597 in the latest Sunday Times Rich List.
But his success has not been without controversy as Jomast has been accused of mistreating asylum seekers on numerous occasions.
A hostel for mothers and their children in Stockton in 2012 was described by residents as ‘a prison’ with a ‘ repressive’ regime and rooms like cells. The company was also accused of failing to provide details of all the asylum seekers it houses to police and local authorities,.
But the company has continued to enjoy public contracts thought to be worth around £8million a year as a subcontractor of G4S.
Companies House records show it had a turnover of £52million in the last two years and made profits of £22.5million.
Last night it emerged that Jomast expanded its property portfolio in Middlesbrough in the wake of Labour’s failed ‘housing market renewal’ policy. This aimed to flatten terraced housing to build new homes but funding ran out, leaving empty properties in ‘ghost streets’.
Mr Monk’s company offered the local council 29 properties in an area where work was going ahead for 61 properties which it would revamp and let out.
Jomast is also behind a range of ambitious plans, such as a £32million casino in Middlesbrough.
Neighbours said Mr Monk is a ‘workaholic’ who is rarely seen at his home, built in 1707 by textiles entrepreneur John Prissick.
His wife is not thought to play an active role in the business and has instead immersed herself in village life. She is a talented needleworker and leads a weekly craft group in the village hall.
Yesterday a neighbour said: ‘Stuart is always at work, he leaves early in the morning and comes home late.
‘He is a hard-working man and doesn’t take much time off. Jennifer’s more part of village life.’
Their son Stephen, 32, is head of the company’s residential division and lives in a lodge in the grounds of The Manor with his wife Kerry.
His sister Jane, 35, the group’s lead surveyor, is also thought to live at the property.