A HEREFORDSHIRE businessman has seen his appeal against conviction for trespassing at his former home thrown out.

Guy Taylor, 53, disputed the verdict imposed by magistrates in July in relation to his five-day occupation of Bodenham Manor last August.

The property, which had been Taylor's family home, had been repossessed by Barclays Bank who sold it to a new owner, James Davis.

But Hereford Crown Court heard last Friday that Taylor, now living in Carey, disputed the validity of the sale, insisting it was still his property.

In summing up the case, Judge Toby Hooper said Taylor had told the court he was a victim of corruption, adding he believed there is "a sub-structure of corruption permeating the legal and financial system".

The court heard he had taken out an £824,000 loan from Barclays in 2007 but later found out a £904,000 loan had been substituted for the earlier one, with Taylor saying the signature on the second loan was forged.

He said he would never want to sell Bodenham Manor as his late father is buried there.

But Judge Hooper dismissed the conviction appeal, saying: "The court concludes he was a trespasser as charged."

Taylor, who has to pay £620 in costs, told the court he would appeal the verdict.

When Taylor appeared at Hereford Magistrates' Cour last September charged with the trespass, he said: "I make no plea as there is no need to plea as there is no crime that has been committed. The charge is defective.”