A successful gourmet sausage entrepreneur is taking her former friend to the High Court, seeking nearly half a million pounds in a bitter row over a property they bought together to renovate and sell.
From Prison to Pig Farm: A Tycoon's Dispute
Tracy Mackness, the 61-year-old founder of The Giggly Pig company, entered into a property venture with Maria Chilton six years ago. The friends purchased a two-bedroom bungalow in Battle, East Sussex, for £290,000 in August 2019, with plans to refurbish and sell it for a profit.
Ms Mackness contributed £100,000 to the purchase, while Ms Chilton put in £80,000. They secured a mortgage for £150,000 from Metro Bank, intending to use the remaining funds for renovations. The property has since been refurbished and is now valued at around £650,000.
A Friendship Breaks Down Over Mortgage Payments
According to court papers, the relationship soured when Ms Mackness accused her former friend of reneging on their agreement. She claims Ms Chilton has lived in the bungalow rent-free for the last two and a half years and stopped contributing to the mortgage payments since September 2022, leaving Ms Mackness to cover the £443 monthly interest repayments alone.
Arguments over money began in October 2023, and the friendship irretrievably broke down by April 2024. The pair are no longer on speaking terms, prompting the legal action.
Ms Mackness is now asking the High Court in London to force a sale of the property. She proposes the proceeds be split 74.63% to her and 25.37% to Ms Chilton, and is also seeking payment of an occupation rent. In total, she is claiming £450,000 in damages.
When approached for comment, Ms Chilton told reporters: “What Tracy is saying is untrue, but I don’t want to say anything further until I’ve spoken to my solicitor.”
A Remarkable Redemption Story
This is not the first time Tracy Mackness has made headlines. In 2007, she was jailed for 10 years for conspiracy to import £4 million worth of cannabis.
Upon her release, she transformed her life, using a qualification in pig husbandry gained in prison to build a thriving business. She founded The Giggly Pig, which is now based on an 800-head pedigree Saddleback pig farm near Romford, Essex. The company turns over half a million pounds a year, selling 40 varieties of specialty sausages, offering hog roasts, and featuring on programmes like Countryfile and The One Show.
This High Court case marks the second major legal battle with a close associate for Ms Mackness. Four years ago, her own mother, Caroline Mackness, sued her over the transfer of a £550,000 house in Harold Wood, Romford. A judge ruled in the mother's favour, finding she lacked sufficient mental awareness to understand the gift, though he also stated Ms Mackness was “not in fault” and believed she was acting in her mother's best interests.
