Council tenant evicted for 'drug den' (From Your Local Guardian)

Council tenant evicted for 'drug den'

11:03am Tuesday 1st July 2008 in

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A council tenant is being evicted from her home of 10 years after allowing her boyfriend to use it as a drugs den.

Tracy Wilding, 42, is being thrown out of the Claygate Crescent home after Croydon County Court granted Croydon council permission to reclaim the home on Thursday.

The court heard police raided the home in April last year, seizing two bags of cannabis, 11.8g of cocaine, 20 bags of cannabis seeds, electronic scales and £420 in cash.

A second raid in December uncovered more bags of cannabis and cocaine and a stun gun.

Wilding's boyfriend Neil Anthony Allen, 28, was then stopped twice more near the house in January and June this year, with police seizing cocaine, bags of speed and a brick-sized block of cannabis.

Allen of Underwood, New Addington pleaded guilty to possession of a Class A drug and a Class C drug on June 1 last year, possession of a Class A drug, a Class C drug and a prohibited automatic weapon on Feb 15.

He received community punishment and drugs rehabilitation orders on March 10 but was arrested again on June 11 for possession of a Class C drug, for which he was fined £140.

Allen was again arrested on January 10 for drugs offences and pleaded guilty on June 13 at Croydon Crown Court to possession of Class A, B and C drugs with intent to supply. He is currently on remand awaiting sentencing on July 11.

Judge David Ellis granted a possession order against Wilding on Thursday, criticising her for making no effort to stop the criminal activity taking place at the house.

He concluded there was repeated evidence of drug abuse and conduct likely to cause a nuisance to residents.

He said that selling drugs in the house could lead to other criminal activity.

Wilding has 14 days to move out.

Councillor Dudley Mead, deputy leader and cabinet member for housing, said: "Ms Wilding was given every opportunity to put a stop to the criminal activity taking place in her council home but she thought she could get away with it.

"We take a tough line with any tenant involved in dealing in drugs and those who do can expect to be dealt with swiftly."