Michael Jackson’s bodyguard makes offer on ‘saddest-ever’ Grand Designs home – dubbing it ‘bargain of the century’
MICHAEL Jackson’s former bodyguard has made a second bid for the ‘saddest-ever’ Grand Designs home.
Multi-millionaire Matt Fides, who worked with the late King of Pop’s security detail, previously expressed interest in nabbing Chesil Cliff House in North Devon.
The gaff, located in the picturesque coastal village of Croyde, featured on the hit Channel 4 show, which dubbed it the “saddest ever” project.
Previous owner Edward Short put his dream home on the market after owing millions of pounds in debt.
It took him ten years to build but subsequent crippling bills eventually cost him his marriage.
Bodyguard Matt claims he warned Edward what would happen if he did not lower the price of the home.
He said: “I built my property portfolio in the South West and I know the market, I know how it works.
“I told Edward face to face and said it wouldn’t sell but you can lead a horse to water and all that.
“I do feel sorry for the guy as no one wants to see anyone lose everything.”
The 44-year-old tabled a £7.5m bid for the property in 2022 and has now had his interest reignited now that it has been relisted with Rightmove for £5.25m.
“I am going to enquire into it today, it just had to be available at the right price,” added Matt.
“It is an incredible property but it should have been split into two separate properties.
“I would turn it into 12 apartments as myself and my wife and spoke with Knight Frank and it is perfect for that.
“We would rent the other house and make thousands.”
Matt added that he has fond memories of visiting Croyde during his childhood, and expressed a desire to return.
He continued: “My family saved up to go there and I created my plans for the martial arts school there so I would love to go back there.
“The residents want it abolished and knocked down. I know the leader of the local council and I would like to explain my plans and hope to get their approval.
“I won’t do it if they don’t want it as the place means a lot to me because of my roots as I took my holidays there.”
LOCAL FURY
It comes after The Sun Online visited the town of Croyde last year, where they were greeted by a horde of seething locals.
According to residents, buy-to-let investors from “up-country” scramble for holiday homes in what is a protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
According to a 2017 survey by the Croyde Area Residents Association, 354 of the total 617 properties are second homes or buy-to-lets – 57.4 per cent of the housing stock.
Residents fear the trend is creating “ghost villages”.
One street, which has a single permanent resident, has become known as “Lights Out Lane” because so many properties stay dark in winter.