Brit homeowners battered with baseball bats by squatters in Ibiza after finding villa had been turned into cannabis farm
A BRIT couple flew to their home in Ibiza where they were assaulted by squatters who had turned the house into a cannabis farm.
The men allegedly attacked them with baseball bats and chains and threatened them with what police believe was a shotgun.
The Spanish men, who have been arrested, stole their suitcases and demanded £1,725 to return them.
Cops said the squatters had converted two rooms at the home, in south-west Ibiza, into a cannabis farm.
Heavily-armed officers had to force their way into the property after getting a court order to arrest the men so the Brits could recover their villa.
Cops revealed footage of the two suspects being led away last week after their arrest.
The men are both Spanish with criminal records for violent crimes and drug trafficking.
They have been accused of various crimes including robbery, wounding and threats.
Police sources said the victims had been injured and needed medical treatment.
The couples’ home, in San Jose, is close to Maison Bang Bang, the luxury mansion of Kate Middleton’s uncle’s Gary Goldsmith.
The Civil Guard said: “Last week the owners of a property in San Jose were surprised inside the house by two squatters when they reached it after travelling to the area from abroad.
“The suspects allegedly attacked them with bats and chains as well as threatening them with what appeared to be a shotgun.
“After threatening them, they took their suitcases and subsequently demanded a payment of EUROS 2,000 to return them.”
They added: “Officers sought a court order to enter the property and arrested the two men and recovered the suitcases as well as other objects possibly taken in other robberies.
“They also discovered two of the rooms inside the property were being used to grow cannabis.
“Both men have a long criminal record for violent crimes and drug trafficking.”
The suspects are believed to have already appeared in court.
It was not clear today if they had been released on bail pending an ongoing criminal investigation or remanded in custody.
It comes a year after a Crown Prosecution Service lawyer and his wife found squatters in their holiday home in Ibiza.
Sophie Robinson, whose husband Marc is head of the CPS’s extradition unit, arrived for an Easter break with their two children to find another family and strangers inside.
The 49-year-old yoga teacher was told by police she had no rights to enter the house.
She was forced to hire a local firm of lawyers to launch proceedings while she and her daughters returned home.
Fortunately her lawyer managed to fast track legal proceedings and secured an eviction notice within five weeks.
Sophie found drugs paraphernalia scattered on the floor and personal property missing when she managed to get back inside the couple’s villa in Cap Negret near San Antonio.