Oct

‘Cruel’ landlord duo jailed after tenants report theft, vandalism and illegal evictions

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A rogue landlady and her son have been jailed for their part in a decade-long campaign of violence, theft and vandalism towards ten of their tenants.

Sohila Tamiz, of Flint Lane, Lenham, received a five-year prison sentence after being convicted on 14 counts including conspiracy to interfere with the peace and comfort of the residential occupier, conspiracy to unlawfully evict and conspiracy to burgle.

Her son Pedram Tamiz was handed a four-year, two-month sentence after being convicted on seven counts including conspiracy to interfere with the peace and comfort of the residential occupier and conspiracy to unlawfully evict.

A trial at Canterbury Crown Court (main picture) heard that the pair had ordered masked gangs to threaten and attack victims who lived in a converted hotel at 2-8 Athelstan Road, Margate (bottom pic).

Toilets broken

They saw locks changed, toilets broken, flooring removed, electricity sabotaged and masked men ordering them to leave. Families were forced to live in cold, dark conditions after having their power cut off.

One victim, Carl Hopkins, had a balaclava-clad gang burst through his door, douse him in petrol and knock three teeth out. The next day he found his locks had been changed and he was forced to live in an abandoned caravan.

Another, Jennifer Duffey, told how she was falsely accused of bringing a bag of white powder into the building and that two men had demanded undue rent while shouting and screaming before removing the lock from her front door.