Prospect was delighted to represent Brent Council in two linked criminal prosecutions which concluded today at Harrow Crown Court under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 against Mohammed Mehdi Ali concerning the unlawful conversion and use of properties at 211 Willesden Lane and 9-10 Tower Road in North London.
Mohammed Mehdi Ali changed the use of the properties from family dwelling houses to Houses in Multiple Occupation, which led to the Council issuing Enforcement Notices in 2014 and 2015. Mr Ali did not comply with the requirements of these Notices, despite losing appeals to the Planning Inspectorate and also, in the case of the Tower Road property, seeing a statutory challenge in the High Court being dismissed.
Her Honour Judge Lana Wood today sentenced Mr Ali to a fine of £75,000 with a 2 year prison sentence in default also being imposed in the event that the fine remains unpaid by 23rd September 2021. In February HH Judge Wood issued a Confiscation Order against Mr Ali under the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 which required Mr Ali to repay over £739,000 in criminal benefit from the rental income he had received at the two properties in the period when he had failed to comply with the Enforcement Notices.
See links to articles in the Guardian and in the Local Government Lawyer here.
About the Author
Edmund Robb is a barrister and co-founder of Prospect Law. He heads up the firm’s Dispute Resolution practice. He was educated at Oxford University, was awarded a Prince of Wales Scholarship from Gray’s Inn and was a barrister at chambers in London where he developed a specialised practice covering the environmental, planning and public law fields at Public Inquiries and at all levels in the Courts. Edmund’s case work has been reported widely, and he has been named as a Legal Expert in his field since 2006. Edmund has particular expertise advising corporate, local authority and private clients on energy, infrastructure and other development projects and in High Court judicial review and declaratory relief proceedings.
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