A private landlord and councillor for Barnsley illegally evicted a family from a property he owned, leaving a teenager stood barefoot on the pavement after shouting “fire, fire, get out” when no fire was present, Sheffield Crown Court heard.
The professional relationship between Philip Davies and his tenants – Wayne Smith and Lisa Slater – deteriorated following a number of disputes regarding the tenancy deposit and the condition of the property.
Complaints regarding the washing machine and presence of damp in the dwelling were made by Mr Davies’s tenants, as well as the fact that they were not given a rent book.
They also claimed that no gas and electricity certificates were presented.
After numerous issues, matters became desperate for the family when Mr Davies arrived at the property and falsely told the couple’s 19-year-old daughter that there was a fire.
She escaped barefoot, in her pyjamas, but gates to the grounds were then closed on her by Mr Davies and some of his associates.
Mr Davies then proceeded to gather the family’s belongings and emailed Mr Smith to inform him that they would be left outside the property’s gates for collection.
Judge Robert Moore said the case was complex because the tenants were allowed to measure up the property before moving in, had refused to pay the agreed deposit and later made allegations about the property’s electrics even though they had already been made aware of the issue.
The court heard that it was the first time Mr Davies had let a property and that he was on medication at the time, though he admitted an offence of unlawful eviction.
Mr Davies was given a 12-month community order, 60 hours of unpaid community work and was ordered to pay £1,000 towards the prosecution costs.