The region's courts are investigating a serious data breach after highly sensitive papers were mistakenly sent to the woman at the centre of an extraordinary Broads housing row.

'Lady Pea' Patricia Ramshaw, who is currently in the midst of a legal wrangle with her wealthy landlords, has spoken of her shock after being accidentally sent swathes of confidential documents by Norwich's combined courts.

The court has since confirmed it is investigating how the breach occurred - with Lady Pea reporting the matter to the Information Commissioner's Office.

The documents include a psychiatric assessment of a criminal, details of people's bail conditions and a number of correspondences between the court and victims of crime.

The blunder came after one of Lady Pea's own cases - an appeal against a tribunal ruling against her - was thrown out after the court could not locate papers she had submitted.

Following the case, one of the lost papers was found, which the court mailed out to her along with papers from an appeal against a criminal conviction she holds for assaulting a former partner.

However, the documents arrived at Lady Pea's controversial home - The Old House in Ranworth, which she rents from the wealthy Cator family - in a bundle with dozens of other unrelated papers.

Eastern Daily Press: Lady Pea Ramshaw, outside the law courts in Norwich. Picture: David HannantLady Pea Ramshaw, outside the law courts in Norwich. Picture: David Hannant (Image: Newsquest)

The mistake saw several pieces of sensitive, personal information handed to Lady Pea - including addresses, arrangements of bail and even details of medical diagnoses. 

The self-styled aristocrat, who works as a sex therapist, said: "I just can not believe something like this could have happened and really feel for the people whose details were sent to me.

"It makes you lose all faith and confidence in the court system if this is how important and sensitive information is handled.

"My appeal was thrown out because the same court said they did not have my papers, which they then sent back to me.

"Who can say how many other cases have been affected in the same way?"

A spokesman for HM Courts and Tribunals Service said: "We treat our responsibilities for handling data very seriously and are urgently investigating the matter."