Drug Dealing Landlord is Worth Just £266

Drug Dealing Landlord is Worth Just £266

9:47 AM, 5th December 2011, About 12 years ago

Text Size

A drug dealing landlord who planned to run a cannabis factory in a charity hostel has assets of just £266 to set off against profits of £7,000 from his crimes.

Naeem Sarwar, 33, the resident landlord at Maundy Relief in Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was arrested when police raiding his flat found £5,000 of cannabis in hundreds of ‘wraps’ for selling.

He was jailed at an earlier hearing for 30 months at Burnley Crown Court.

Sarwar returned to court for a judge to rule about seizing his assets.

The court heard the he had just £266 – which he was ordered to pay within three months or serve an extra three months in prison.

Police calculated Sarwar had earned £6,980 from dealing drugs – and that he stood to make a lot more as the hostel basement contained growing equipment to farm more drugs.

Fire Risks Ignored

Landlady Clare Sumner ignored orders from Liverpool City Council to upgrade fire prevention measures at two houses in multiple occupation she owned in the city.

Sumner failed to respond to any orders or letters sent by the council, magistrates heard. She was fined £9,000 for seven offences relating to the properties, and ordered to pay £1,955 costs.

Sumner had converted two houses at Radstock Road, Kensington, in to flats without any building control approval. The inspection team uncovered fire detection systems were not working,
doors did not meet fire safety standards and lacked locks and self closing devices. Staircases were also left without handrails and no gas or electrical safety certificates were supplied.

Councillor Ann O’Byrne, cabinet member for community safety and housing, said: “This prosecution sends out a clear message to owners of Houses in Multiple Occupation that we will not hesitate to take action against those who break the law and put their tenants’ lives at risk. The level of fines show that the courts view these matters very seriously.”

Unlawful eviction

Landlord Asaf Mahmood was given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £2,000 costs at Huntingdon Crown Court after admitting aiding and abetting a letting agent to unlawfully evict tenants by changing locks on a buy to let home while the tenants were out.


Share This Article


Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Tax Planning Book Now