In 2009 a £3 million property owned by his son Jason, which is less than one
mile from Clifton Wood House, was occupied by around 40 squatters.

A spokesperson for Knight Frank refused to comment on the situation.

The group, of mixed nationalities, are legally allowed to live there because
squatting is legal if entry to an empty property is not forced and there is
no criminal damage.

Bristol’s Occupy movement set up their camp on College Green in October with
up to 60 tents erected on the lawns.

But within weeks the site, which overlooks Bristol Cathedral, was reduced to a
muddy swamp full of rubbish, empty cider bottles and used syringes.

Security teams eventually moved in to clear the site on January 31 after a
judge granted an eviction order.

The protesters had promised to help clear up their mess, but none were present
to assist council contractors with the removal of rubbish.

It has been estimated that £20,000 damage was caused to the green but a local
contractor has now offered to re-turf the entire area for the knock-down
price of £4,800.

The squatters refused to confirm how they gained entry to Clifton Wood House a
week ago but insist they have not broken the law.

However, they own a set of keys and the codes to the front gates – both of
which were left on a counter in the empty mansion.

They were among the 60 protesters who were camping on College Green but say
their current occupation is not related to the Occupy movement.

One of the group, Haile Blessed, said: “I won’t say we want to stay as
long as possible because that then makes it into a game. Ultimately we want
to stay for forever.

“Once I put up my pictures I don’t take them down.”

The mansion is still connected to both water and electricity but the estate
agent Knight Frank has turned off the gas since they arrived.

None of the members hold jobs and food comes through scavenging for leftovers
and the little they earn through busking.

The group firmly maintain their legality, Haile said: “I think the police
have the owner’s number but they don’t seem to care.

“The estate agents know we’re here too but they’re not doing anything
about it, we’re the legal caretakers.”

The group discovered the house was empty through a squatting association who
keep a list of houses that are owned by companies and not individuals.

Another squatter, Mat, said: “It’s try before you buy isn’t it? We live
in a generation where everything is try before you buy, that’s what we’re
doing. We’re prospective buyers!”

The group all claim to be estranged from their families, with Haile describing
himself as a “victim of the care system”.