A British octogenarian has developed cancer after spending the last five years trying to remove squatters from his Spanish villa.
Kenneth Jobe, 84, has been left exhausted after losing more than €50,000 in rent or his three-bedroom home in Mijas on the Costa del Sol.
He has been desperate to reclaim the property, which he worked all his life to afford with hopes of retiring there.
READ MORE: Exclusive: Our Spanish flat was squatted and turned into a brothel
The desperation has now reached new heights after Kenneth was diagnosed with cancer this month, when the disease was detected in his liver.
The shocking news has dealt a crushing blow to the family, who are now more determined than ever to win their home back.
‘We’re not giving up,’ his son told this newspaper, ‘We’re in court in September where the judge will rule on whether or not the squatters can be declared vulnerable, and we are optimistic of winning and getting an eviction date.
‘But it’s disgusting, my dad got diagnosed with cancer last week. He’s having a biopsy right now in hospital, and he can’t even go to his own house in Spain.
‘It’s breathtaking, it literally takes your breath away at how these people can do this, my dad just wants to live out there.’
He added: ‘The system is broken, especially for expats, if you’re spanish it moves along a lot quicker.’
Brits who plan to leave their home in Spain empty for any period of time are advised to install good quality security cameras and an alarm.
If squatters are filmed on CCTV breaking into your home, and an alarm notifies police immediately, there will be a much stronger case for an immediate eviction.
Read more Spain news at the Spanish Eye.
