A couple who spent years living in a hidden underground dwelling in the North Devon countryside have been spared immediate jail despite repeatedly ignoring council warnings and court action.

Garry Braund and Tina Thorne constructed the unauthorised home on land at Honey Hill, Snapper, gradually expanding the site over nearly a decade in defiance of planning rules. The pair were eventually brought before Exeter County Court, where they admitted four breaches of an enforcement notice.

North Devon Council first intervened in December 2016 after discovering the land was being used as a residence, with caravans, sheds and a newly created vehicle access point emerging onto a dangerous blind bend. Despite being given multiple opportunities to comply, officials said the couple continued to develop the site.

Over time, the unauthorised activity intensified, culminating in the creation of a concealed subterranean home. A later enforcement visit in August 2024, carried out with police support, confirmed the existence of the underground structure, which had been disguised with branches and camouflage netting.

According to the council, Braund admitted during the visit that they were living on the site despite being aware of the planning breaches.

Officials described the case as one of "persistent and deliberate non-compliance", noting that the development had continued for around nine years despite repeated warnings and previous legal action.

At a hearing on March 24, the couple were sentenced to 42 days in prison, suspended for 12 months. The suspension is conditional on them not returning to live on the land or attempting to reverse compliance with the enforcement notice.

They were also ordered to pay £8,088 in costs relating to recent hearings. The council confirmed that total costs linked to the long-running case now exceed £30,000, which it is seeking to recover through legal charges placed on the land.

The site lies in open countryside, where development is tightly restricted to protect the area's natural character and sustainability. Authorities said the scale and concealment of the works raised serious concerns.

Councillor Malcolm Prowse, lead member for regeneration, economic development and planning at North Devon Council, said the outcome demonstrated the authority's commitment to enforcing planning rules.

"Planning regulations are in place to ensure our natural environment is protected for the benefit of all our residents," he said. "This case shows we will continue to take action, even in complex situations, to uphold the system and protect our communities."

The couple must now comply fully with the enforcement notice or risk being sent to prison.