A "SELFISH" couple allowed their property to fall into a state of disrepair because of ill health, a court heard.

Alan and Yvonne Riley faced Worcester magistrates yesterday after Fairbairn House, in Hartlebury, became an eyesore.

Leonie Woodward, prosecuting for Wychavon District Council, said the site was littered with cars and rubbish which were visible from the roadside.

Mr Riley, aged 77, said attempts to clear the site had been hampered because his wife had suffered from cancer and he was her full-time carer.

He said she had been "at death's door" at one point and both her breasts had been removed.

"Unfortunately my time hasn't been my own," he said.

"Contrary to what's been said here today, steps have been taken (to clear the land).

"I feel, with due respect, all round I had a lot to contend with, without having to abide by council regulations and restrictions."

Before breaking down in tears his 70-year-old wife said: "It's down to me that it hasn't been cleared, because I didn't want anyone to know I had cancer.

"Alan has had to look after me all the while. He hasn't had a lot of time to do anything. We don't have any family, we just don't have anyone to help us. I don't want pity, but I didn't want anyone to know I had cancer."

William Gairns, enforcement officer for the authority, spoke of the three-year battle to get the land cleared.

He said despite visiting the Inn Lane property on several occasions since the first complaint was made in 2004, very little had improved.

Speaking about one visit he said: "He (Mr Riley) did what he could I suppose at the time, but he didn't seem to be making any conscious effort to resolve it."

Derek Stocker, chairman of Hartlebury Parish Council, described how no action was taken to clear the site since the enforcement noticed was served by Wychavon in January 2007.

On sentencing the couple, who changed their not guilty plea to guilty half-way through the trial, magistrate Keith Stevens said: "We feel that you have been highly culpable in allowing this situation to arise.

"We feel you have adopted a very selfish attitude in allowing this property to deteriorate."

Mr Riley was fined £900 and his wife £750. Both must pay £466 court costs. Wychavon will decide how soon the land must be cleared.

Ian Marshall, head of legal and support services at Wychavon District Council, said: "We are very pleased with the outcome today as it shows that the abuse of land in the district will not be tolerated."

ONCE IDYLLIC PROPERTY WAS PRAISED BY FORMER US PRESIDENT'S WIFE

Barely recognisable, the once idyllic property is swamped with weeds, rubbish and waste.

Owners of an award-winning, picture-perfect property in Hartlebury caused outrage among villagers after turning their home into a "slum" in just 14 years.

Fairbairn House, a once "magnificent residence standing in exquisitely landscaped gardens" was praised by Lady Bird Johnson, the wife of former American President Lyndon, for its breathtaking features.

But since Alan Riley bought the bungalow for about £300,000 in 1990, villagers say the grounds have gone to rack and ruin.

Hartlebury Parish Council wrote to Mr Riley in a desperate bid for him to clean up the land, which used to home 200 rainbow trout in a pool and boasted four feature fountains.

The property, in Inn Lane, won the Grand Award for Environmental Improvement for the excellence of its fesign in 1977. But it barely looks a shadow of those halcyon days with festering rubbish, punctured cars and cluttered mess replacing an inspired garden with neat colourful flower beds, just yards from Hartlebury Church.

The regal home was built by Bob Haynes in 1962 and his son John said the state of the property brought a tear to his late mother's eye when she looked at it.

Mr Haynes said: "She was heartbroken about Fairbairn House because she put an awful lot of time and effort into keeping it like it was. The man who took it on couldn't care less.

"Had my parents known that it would look like it does now, then they would never have sold it to him."