Nestled in the heart of a picturesque North Yorkshire village, a four-bedroom home beams with rustic charm, featuring exposed beams and a stylish kitchen. Yet, this property on Rightmove carries a chilling disclaimer in its listing: 'A crime was committed at this property'. The house, priced at £355,000, was once Melsonby's Village Shop and Post Office and the scene of a brutal killing that shattered the community.
A Village Idyll Shattered by Violence
In March 2010, the quiet rhythm of life in Melsonby, a village of around 800 people, was violently disrupted. Sub-postmistress Diana Garbutt, 40, was found bludgeoned to death in the bedroom above the Post Office she ran with her husband, Robin. He told police an armed robber had attacked Diana as she slept before demanding money from the safe downstairs.
Robin Garbutt claimed the robber fled empty-handed and that he only then discovered his wife's body. However, three weeks later, he was arrested. In 2011, a jury at Teesside Crown Court convicted him of Diana's murder, concluding he had faked a robbery to cover up mounting debts. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years.
The Shadow of the Horizon Scandal
The case has become deeply controversial due to its connection to the Post Office Horizon scandal. Prosecutors alleged Garbutt had stolen around £30,000 from the Post Office, using data from the flawed Horizon accounting system as evidence. This same system has since been discredited, leading to the wrongful prosecution of hundreds of sub-postmasters.
Garbutt, now 60, has always maintained his innocence. Despite three failed appeals, a fourth application is now with the Criminal Cases Review Commission, citing the faulty Horizon evidence. The case has regained public attention following the Sky documentary 'Murder at the Post Office'.
A Property Market Stalled by a Grisly Past
Despite being described as brimming with character and offering generous living space, the property has remained on the market for nearly two years. Locals are divided on why it hasn't sold. Some believe its history is a deterrent. 'I guess it's unnerving for some people to live in a house where someone has been violently killed,' one anonymous resident said.
Others, like villager Brian Bottler, argue the price and lack of a substantial garden are the real issues. However, he conceded the past could be a factor. The renewed spotlight has also raised concerns the house could attract unwanted attention from true crime tourists.
The Rightmove listing makes no specific mention of the murder, only the blunt crime admission, with further details available on request. As the legal battle continues and the property search wears on, the house in Melsonby stands as a stark reminder of a tragedy that continues to resonate.
