Trinity Criminal, Regulatory and Housing barrister, Shada Mellor, secured a 10 month prison sentence for a defendant previously referred to as a “rogue landlord” by a Judge.
The defendant, Martin Ambler, was charged with several breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order (“CBO”) involving hazards (as defined by the Housing Act 2004) present in the properties he was renting out in West Lea estate, Clowne, Derbyshire, including “rat infestations” and “rubbish-strewn homes”.
At a previous hearing held on 8th August 2022, a Deferred Sentence Order had been put in place to allow the defendant time to rectify the hazards in his properties, and provide necessary information regarding the Order’s conditions, which he failed to comply with sufficiently, leading to the 10 month sentence.
During Council inspections of Mr Ambler’s properties, officers found “rat droppings on a mattress, mould, damp, faulty doors and windows”, and major structural defects caused by rats.
Mr Amber was sentenced by Judge HHJ Bennett at Chesterfield Crown Court following the prosecution by Bolsover District Council instructing Shada Mellor.
News coverage includes: