A CIVIL servant returned from a weekend away to discover a family had invaded her Leytonstone home.

Julia High, 55, was horrified to discover the group of eight had moved into her Ashvill Road property and ransacked her possessions while she was away visiting her parents earlier this month.

They claimed that Ms High had agreed to rent the home and even produced a fake tenancy agreement, but were evicted by police the next day after Ms High secured a court order.

She told the Guardian: "I've just been absolutely gobsmacked by the whole thing. I was only away for a few days but in that time they stole my whole life.

"They threw a lot in the garden so a lot of things have been ruined. I've managed to get my house back but not my home."

Startled neighbours were told by the family that Ms High had died and her son had given his consent for them to move in - even though she does not have any children.

She said: "It was insane that I had to spend the night at my neighbour's house while other people went through my things next door.

"Because squatting is a civil offence the police said they can't do anything more. I think it's wrong to have knee-jerk responses in such situations but to make it a criminal offence would definitely help matters."

Ms High, who works with the UK Border Agency but is not an immigration officer as has been reported, says when she gained acces to the house again many of her valuables were stolen and much of her clothes ruined.

She added: "I'm just trying to salvage what I can now. So much has gone and it's going to be a big job.

"I just feel very lucky that the courts were so wonderful and quick or I could have been sleeping on my neighbour's sofa for a very long time."

She added that police told her there was no further action they could take against the family.

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