Banned of brothers; EXCLUSIVE FAMILY AT WAR .. FAMILY AT WAR Court order keeps family from house.

A FAMILY are at war over a gran's pounds 65,000 former council house.

A son of Margaret Malcolm - who lives in the house with her - has secured a court order banning his own brother from going near the property.

John Malcolm, 37, claims his brother Charles and family want the home he shares with his 78-year-old mother, who suffers from Alzheimer's.

He complains he has been the victim of intimidation, harassment and threats of violence.

The semi-detached house has been turned into a fortress with 24-hour video surveillance and extra locks.

A court non-harassment order now bans Charles, 47, from going within 100 yards of it or from approaching John, who lives in to care for his mother.

A separate order also bans Charles's wife Margo, 37, from going within 100 yards of Margaret's three-bedroom house in Whitburn, West Lothian, and from approaching John.

Both non-harassment orders were granted at Linlithgow Sheriff Court.

Four cameras guard the house 24 hours a day, along with extra locks and an alarm.

John, 37, who raised the actions, said: "My cameras record 24-seven because I've no idea what's going to happen next"Charles has come here before shouting and banging on the doors and window. I have had to go to court to try to stop the abuse.

"My mother is elderly and does not need this.

"The fact is that Charles and his wife are trying to drive me out. They want the house and they seem bent on doing everything they can to get it."

Neither Charles nor Margo has any criminal convictions against them in connection with harassment.

Margaret's estate is now under "financial guardianship", with solicitors appointed to oversee it.

John's late father Richard and Margaret bought the council house in 2001 - two years after youngest son John moved back in to the family home to act as carer for the frail couple. But Richard died, aged76, in January 2002 from health problems associated with his job as a miner.

John, who holds welfare guardianship for his mother,said:"I gave up my job as a supermarket supervisor to move in and care for my parents."

The bitter feud between the brothers has driven a wedge through the once happy family.

Other brothers Robert, 48, and Richard Jr, 44, have taken Charles's side in the row.

Last night Charles said: "The rest of the family have been put through four years of hell because of John. The non-harassment orders are a joke.

"He got legal aid to get them but because we work we would have been looking at a bill of around pounds 5000 just to defend the action and we simply could not afford it."

And he alleged: "My father's headstone has gone because John chose not to pay the bill.

"For two years my father's grave has hadno stone and the rest of the family finds that deeply hurtful Margo said: "John is obsessed and he uses the legal system against us.

"He is keeping the whole family away from my mother-in-law.

"She has six grandchildren and she has missed birthdays and weddings because of John. He has ruined this family and that is unforgivable."

But John hit back: "For Charles and Margo to claim my father's headstone was repossessed is unbelievable.

"I paid for it and I have the receipt. The headstone kept being damaged.

"That is why it is no longer there

CAPTION(S):

SPLIT: John Malcolm, main picture, has taken out an injunction against brother Charles and sister-in-law Margo to stop them going hear his home