Landlord ripped tenant’s toilet out of the wall in ‘moment of madness over unpaid rent’

Landlord Terrence Kermode was fined £1,000 with more than £2,000 costs for the incident (Picture: Wales News Service)

A rogue landlord ripped his tenant’s toilet out of the wall in a raging row over ‘unpaid’ rent, a court heard.

Terrence Kermode, 76, tore out the toilet, sink and other bathroom fittings in a ‘moment of madness’, before dumping them in the bath tub.

Images taken from inside the bathroom show the ripped-out items dumped in the bath, leaving an exposed pipe protruding from the wall and holes in the floor and wall.

The grandad was fined £1,000 with more than £2,000 costs after council officials investigated the ‘loodunnit’ attack at his tenant’s flat.

Kermode was prosecuted by council officials for unlawfully evicting and harassing a tenant after a court saw the gaping hole where the toilet once stood.

A court heard the ‘outrageous’ offences amounted to effectively breaking into someone’s home and removing belongings from it.

Kermode, of Hawarden, Flintshire, had been a landlord for 30 years before ripping apart the bathroom in the row over bills and rent.

He admitted one offence under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 at Mold Magistrates Court.

He tore the toilet and sink out of the wall and dumped them in the bathub after becoming enraged with his tenants (Picture: Wales News Service)

Kermode was ordered to pay a £1000 victim surcharge after a court said the act amounted to effectively breaking into someone’s home and smashing their belongings (Picture: Wales News Service)

Kermode’s age was offered as mitigation along with the fact that he had no prior convictions and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

But he was still handed a fine of £1,000, a surcharge of £100, and made to pay costs of more than £2,600 – all of which he must pay within 28 days.

Councillor Christopher Bithell said: ‘We believe everyone has the right to live in a home which is in good repair, safe, warm and secure.

‘Whilst we aim to reduce the health effects of poor housing conditions through a combination of advice and financial assistance, occasionally we deal with matters that are so serious a prosecution is necessary.

‘This successful prosecution sends out a clear message to landlords that Flintshire County Council will do all it can to protect its residents from unlawful eviction and harassment.

‘It reflects Flintshire’s commitment to ensuring homes in the private rented sector are properly managed and that tenants are afforded the security that they need during the current cost of living crisis.’

The court heard his daughter has since taken over the running of his rental properties.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

from News – Metro https://ift.tt/5NfigQu