A Lewisham landlord who harassed two of his tenants after they refused to accept unlawful rent increases has now got a criminal conviction. 

Craig Taylor, 57, of Ormeley Road in Clapham, pleaded guilty to two counts of harassing women who were tenants at let on Alloa Road, Deptford. 

The details of the charges as stated in court documents were that to one of the women he sent messages demanding she leave the property if she was unwilling to pay unlawful rent increases, sent messages with threats if she failed to leave and directly approaching her whilst holding a hammer. 

To the other woman he also demanded she leave if she was unwilling to pay the unlawful rent increase, sent messages threatening to send someone around to speak with her, followed her into her bedroom and confronted her outside of the premises regarding her failure to leave the property. 

At Bromley Magistrates’ Court in September, Taylor was given a one-year community order including 80 hours of unpaid work. 

He was ordered to pay £500 each to the two women he harassed. 

Taylor was also told to pay £16,827 towards the prosecution costs.