A LANDLORD is out of pocket after he harassed and illegally evicted one of his tenants.

Simon Knight was found guilty by Southampton Magistrates' Court of depriving David Ratcliff of his occupation rights to a home he owns in Langton Road, Bishops Waltham.

During November 2016, Knight embarked on a course of conduct intended to force his tenant to leave the property by failing to repair the oven door, washing machine, tumble dryer and kitchen extractor fan.

After pleading not guilty to two counts against him, Knight, 57, also removed the tenant’s bedroom door and bed, padlocked the communal bathroom door shut and disconnected the power to the shower.

When these measures failed, he unlawfully evicted his tenant by changing the locks whilst he was out, preventing him from entering the property and denying him access to his belongings and essential medication - due to this he was left homeless for two nights.

The tenant reported Knight’s actions against him to Winchester City Council. Following the Council's own investigation, credible circumstances were discovered supporting concerns that the eviction was illegal. The Council therefore pursued legal action against the landlord.

District Judge Peter Greenfield sentenced Knight, of Norwood Green, Norwood, to 12 weeks imprisonment suspended for a period of two years.

In addition, he imposed upon Knight a curfew for a period of 16 weeks between the hours of 8pm and 6am and ordered him to pay £2,000 compensation to his former tenant for the distress he had suffered as a consequence of these offences.

Judge Greenfield also ordered Knight to pay the Council’s full costs of bringing the prosecution to court which totalled £8,490 in addition to a Victim Surcharge of £115.

Following Knight's sentencing, portfolio holder for housing and leader of Winchester City Council, Councillor Caroline Horrill said: "This result sends a strong message that the City Council will not tolerate rogue landlords taking advantage of their tenants private rented accommodation being in an unfit or unsafe condition.

"Whilst we have a positive relationship with most landlords in the District, the actions of this landlord were evidentially unacceptable and resulted in real hardship for the tenant he illegally evicted."