07/11/2008 : Eviction and fine for anti social tennant

A tenant who blighted the area she lived in with anti social behaviour (ASB) has been evicted, given a six week suspended prison sentence and made to pay £10,000 to cover Brent Housing Partnership's (BHP) legal fees.

40 year old Tawa Adeola Olatunji, who lived in a BHP managed flat on Kilburn lane, broke a court injunction six times before the courts finally ruled to evict her.

The tenant's neighbours and businesses in the area complained to BHP about her offensive, intimidating and threatening behaviour. They also claimed she repeatedly played loud music at all hours of the night, abused her neighbours and allowed her visitors to do the same.

After a thorough investigation BHP's proactive Anti Social Behaviour Team took the tenant to court where they obtained a postponed possession order and interim injunction, prohibiting the tenant from causing any further nuisance.
However the tenant went on to deliberately breach the court's ruling.

BHP then applied to the court for an immediate possession order which was denied when the tenant agreed to attend a long term rehabilitation placement to help with her alcohol addiction. The courts decided to grant a suspended possession order to BHP rather than an immediate possession to allow the woman one final opportunity to seek help.

Unfortunately the tenant ignored the ruling and continued to carry out acts of anti-social behaviour. BHP applied for a warrant of possession to evict her and an application to commit the tenant to prison for deliberate breaches of the injunction.

At a final hearing on 3 October 2008, the court ordered that the eviction should go ahead and Adeola Olatunji received a six week prison sentence, a week for each breach of the injunction, which was suspended until 21 November 2008 pending the eviction.

The tenant was also ordered to pay all BHP's legal costs incurred throughout the case which amounted to £10,000.

The eviction took place on 13 October 2008.

BHP's Director of Housing Management Sandra Royer said: 'This resident breached her tenancy agreement and broke the law on several occasions despite second chances and offers of help. Our residents have the right to live in a safe and peaceful environment and we do everything in our power to ensure this.

'We were very satisfied with the Judges final ruling, she was held accountable for her actions; her neighbours can now have some peace. And the money we spent, which comes from our rent collections, will be refunded and can go back into providing services for our residents.'