THE future of a Rake garden firm is in the balance after it locked horns with its neighbour, the Russian oil tycoon Roman Abramovich, in a land dispute. Up to 12 jobs could be on the line at Hampshire Gardencraft if the richest man in Russia, who owns Chelsea Football Club, wins a dispute over two small plots of land on the edge of his giant 440-acre estate. Lawyers for Abramovich told Winchester Crown Court last week that Hampshire Gardencraft had encroached on his land in two places totalling 0.39 of an acre - the larger area being used for storage and the smaller plot for additional parking. And in a further twist, it was revealed that Abramovich's estate manager was tipped off about the encroachment by the ex-wife of Gardencraft director Lazlo Toth. If Mr Toth loses the case his company could face legal costs of around £100,000, and with it, potential closure. He now faces an anxious wait, along with his 12 staff, while Judge Iain Hughes QC deliberates over his decision. He said: "It's a lot of money - of course it is. If we lose we will have to find the money somehow. We understand that their costs are £50,000 to £60,000 and ours are approaching that sort of figure as well. Obviously we would have to pay our own costs and theirs if we lose. "We have just got to sit and wait for a result. The employees don't know anything about it at this stage. "I wish it had not happened. I wish he had not found out. But at the end of the day hopefully we will win it." But under the laws of adverse possession, business partners Lazlo Toth and Patrick Gadsden could still have the chance of keeping the land and winning the case. During a seven-day hearing, lawyers told the court how the encroachment began in 1983- 1984, when Australian media tycoon Kerry Packer owned the estate. After 12 years of holding land without objection, British law protects the person in possession of the land rather than the real owner. Mr Toth and Mr Gadsden were represented at the case by barrister Simon Brilliant. He said: "It cannot be said against the defendants that they have acted in any underhand way. This was all being done on an entirely open basis. "The point is, it has to be obvious if anybody wants to take the trouble to look. "This was a very big estate owned by two of the most powerful people on the globe at different times, and one is perhaps surprised the encroachment was not noticed." A source close to Mr Toth told The Herald: "All he can do now is to carry on regardless and wait for the verdict on what is really a straightforward case." Roman Abramovich was not present at the trial but his legal representative, Beverly-Ann Rogers, told the court how estate manager Dean Hall had been informed of the encroachment and had arranged overhead photographs of the plot to be taken. A munitions factory during the war, the factory now produces a range of outdoor garden ornaments such as sundials and birdbaths. Abramovich's £12 million estate was once owned by King Hussein of Jordan and features swimming pools, trout lakes, polo pitches and stables. His seven-bedroom mansion is just one of many he owns around the world, including a Belgravia town house, and properties in Russia, Austria, Nice and St Tropez. The 38-year-old, who has five children, bought Fyning Hill from Kerry Packer in 1999 and plans are under way to build a new guest house and £4 million gym and health suite extension. The ruling will be announced within the next three weeks.