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TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

Landlord ordered to repay £52,000 within three months or face prison

A private landlord in Lincoln has been warned that he could be given a prison sentence of up to 15 months if he fails to repay £52,000 by August.

Leonardo Viscomi, of Malham Drive, Lincoln, continued to accept rent payments despite knowing that his property, which was being leased to people running European Foods Street, was being used to sell illegal alcohol and cigarettes.

The 61-year-old landlord confessed that he had known the property was being used for the illegal sale of alcohol and cigarettes, but insisted that he had no involvement in the running of the business and argued he had attempted to get the tenants to leave the property amicably.

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He also claims the money, received over six years, was needed as he had bills to pay.

But his failure to evict those responsible meant criminal proceedings were taken against him and he was prosecuted.

In January, Viscomi pleaded guilty to knowing criminal activity was happening at his premises and was handed a suspended sentence as well as being given 150 hours unpaid work.

He has now been back in court and has been ordered to pay £52,755.57 within three months under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Failure to repay the sum could see Viscomi, who also has a business in Retford, sent to prison for as much as 15 months. He must also pay full costs of £8,517, but this is payable within 12 months.

Andy Wright, Principal Trading Standards Officer at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “For six years, Mr Viscomi received rent payments which originated from the sale of illegal cigarettes, it is only right that he pays this back.

“Mr Viscomi has three months to find almost £53,000, or if not, will go to prison for 15 months.

“As I've said before, it was never our intention to prosecute Mr Viscomi. He is a man of previous good character, and so we tried really hard, over a number of years, to give him detailed advice and information about what was happening in his building and the likely consequences if he continued to take rent payments.

"We tried prosecuting the sellers of the goods, but these were quickly replaced with another willing party, so we’ve tried a different tactic – which seems to be making a real difference at removing illegal and counterfeit cigarettes from our streets.”

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    • 09 May 2019 09:12 AM

    This is ridiculous.
    So now all the police have to do is prosecute a LL anytime there is criminal activity at his rental property.
    LL are legally required to offer 'peaceful enjoyment'
    How might a LL detect criminal activity unless behaving like a latter day Rigsby!?
    This case raises so many issues.
    Innocent LL could find their rents removed from them and find themselves in prison.
    Witness any LL who has rogue tenants who create a cannabis farm.
    This case should be appealed with legal assistance from the RLA etc.
    LL are not liable for the criminal activities of their tenants.
    LL are unable to evict quickly even if they wanted to.
    Remember the case of the Police Superintendent who discovered. ...............eventually that he had let to a cannabis farm! !!!!
    He wasn't prosecuted or threatened with prison unless he coughed up the rent he had received from the cannabis farmers!!!
    This LL changed the tenants who again carried on with criminal activity.
    Not the LL fault.

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    Whilst having no sympathy for rogue landlords or tenants, I think this guy is being treated very harshly as it could have been quite dangerous to get heavy with these criminal tenants. How about jailing tenants who continue to occupy properties they reuse to pay rent on?

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    The way things are going landlords will be guilty until proven innocent.
    Anything else for us to lose sleep over that we are unaware about?

  • James B

    Landlord bashing gone mad

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