Luton On Sunday, January 6, 2013

42.5 MB·English

by  LSN Media Ltd

onsunday
LUTON
January06,2013
Issuenumber:926
www.luton-dunstable.co.uk
£1WHERESOLD
Advertising feature. Your normal onsunday is inside
LUTON
II|January6,2013|www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|LUTONONSUNDAY news01582707707|advertising01582700800
Luton Town Aircraft in double Keep up to date with the
star in no rush drama at Luton latest news and sport at
to move www.luton-dunstable.co.uk
Airport
onsunday
onpage53 onpage3
Jan6,2012 LUTON
Issuenumber:926
www.luton-dunstable.co.uk
FollowusonTwitter:@LutonOnSunday £1WHERESOLD
Body in the river could
The local Lib
Dems decide
not to follow
be missing Luton man
central orders
THEleaderoftheLuton
LiberalDemocratsparty
hassaidtheywillnot
changetheirpolicyin
responsetoaleaked
memofromtheparty’s
headquarters.
BYLAURENARCHELL Lastweek,TimSnowball,
thedirectorofcommuni-
[email protected]
cationsfortheLibDems
sentaletterurgingmem-
POLICEsaythatabodyfoundinthe berstoconsistentlycriti-
RiverGreatOuseinBedfordonNew cisetheConservativeand
Year’s Day appears to be that of Labourpartiesintheir
missingLutonmanFelixYorke. communications.
Felix, 25, of Butterworth Path, left Thememotoldmembers
workattheTopManbranchinLuton tosaythatLabour‘can’t
onNovember30at5pmandhasnot betrustedtomanagethe
beenseensince. economy’andthe
A passing member of the public Conservatives‘can’tbe
spottedthebodyinthewateratThe trustedtobuildafair
Embankment,nearthejunctionwith society’.
ShaftesburyAvenueanditwasrecov- ButCouncillorFranks,
eredduringtheafternoon. whosaidhedidnot
Thebodyhasnotyetbeenformally receiveorseethee-mail,
identified as detectives are awaiting hassaidtheirpolicywill
theresultsofDNAandotherteststo notchange.
beabsolutelycertain. Hesaid:“Unlikethe
Butclothingandotheritemslocated LabourandToryparties
withtheman,wouldstronglysuggest wedonotplaysillyparty
thatitisFelix. games.
Apostmortemhasnotyetidentified “Irecall,forexample,
the cause of his death and further thatwhenthethenLiberal
testsarebeingdonetoestablishhow Democratadministration
hedied. attheTownHallbuiltthe
Felixhadbeenreportedasmissing newStGeorge’sSquare
byhisfamilyonDecember1butnone TRIBUTE:FlowersandmessagesleftatthesitewhereabodywaspulledoutoftheRiverGreatOusebythepoliceonTuesday.Itis theLabourleadercriti-
oftheenquiriescarriedoutsofarhave believedtobethatofFelixYorkewhoispictured,inset.HewasreportedmissingbyhisfamilyinDecember cised itandsaidshe
suggestedwhyhewouldbeinBedford. preferredtheoldone.
It’sforthisreasonthatofficershave ductedasixhoursearchoftheRiver His website described him as an found, we are hoping that someone “Shenowthinksthenew
takentheunusualstepofindicating GreatOuseinBedfordafterreportsof ‘aspiringhip-hopartist’andincluded will know what he was doing in squareissogoodshehas
thenameofthedeadpersonbeforea a‘loudsplash’.Nothingwasfoundand tracks called ‘Never Say Surrender’ Bedfordthatnight. severaltimestriedto
formal identification can be done. CCTVshowednoevidenceofanyone and‘GoodbyeForNow’,whichwere “Ifyouhaveinformationaboutwhy claimthecreditfor
Theyhopethatlightcanbeshedon beinginthewater. uploadedjustdaysbeforehewaslast he may have been in the area then buildingit.
hislastmovements. Following his disappearance, seen. pleasegiveusacall. “Wehavenotimefor
AtpresentitisknownthatafterFelix friends set up a Twitter campaign Sgt Gavin Conder, who heads the “Youwouldbehelpinghisfamilyin suchhypocriticaldouble
left work he caught a train at about using the hashtag ‘FindFelix’, to try Missing Persons Unit, said: achievingsomepeaceofmindabout dealings.
5.30pmfromLutonParkwaystation. and find the whereabouts of the “Understandably, Felix’s family are hislasthours.” “Wheneitherofthe
Hismobiletelephonewaslastactive 25-year-old, while a YouTube video desperatetoknowwhathashappened Anyonewhocanhelpwithinforma- otherpartiessayordo
atabout7pmthatnight. pleadingforhisreturnwaspublished tohimandassumingtheoutstanding tion should contact Sgt Conder on somethingsensibleweare
On the same evening police con- onDecember5. identitychecksproveitishimwehave 01234275137. happytosupportit.”
letterson12 jobson40 classifiedon42 propertyon33 motorson46 sporton50
2|January6,2013|www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|LEUTONOmNSUNDAeY rgency calls near news01582707707|advertising01582700800
Young volunteer
MaNagiNgDiREcTOR
wins award for
MikeRichardson
[email protected]
to doubling over Xmas his fundraising
NEWSDESK
LSNSeriesEditor:ChrisGill
[email protected] AYOUNGvolunteerhasreceivedaNew
[email protected] Yearawardinreturnforhiscontinuing
dedicationtothecommunity.
NewsEditor:LuiStraccia BradleyAdams,16,fromDunstable,has
Newsdesk:01582707707 beennamed‘BestYoungVolunteer’inthe
Picturedesk:01582706780 BYCARLMUNGAZI EastofEnglandatthevInspiredNational
[email protected] [email protected] andvolunteerswhoworkedduring Awards,inrecognitionofhisfundraising
thisdifficultshift. effortstohelpalocalgirlwithcancer.
NEARLY2,000callsweremade “Whileadownwardtrend,how- Theteenagerisalreadyaseasonedvol-
SPORTSDESK duringthenewyearcelebrations, everslight,isgoodnewsanda unteerandhasbeenraisingcashforLilly
theEastofEnglandAmbulance signthatperhapspeoplearetak- MacGlashan, who suffers from neuro-
Generalsportenquiries ServiceNHSTrust(EEAST)has ingnoteofouradvice,it’sstilla blastoma,sincehewas14-years-old.
[email protected] revealed. verybusystarttotheyear. Hewasinspiredbyatalkatschoolabout
Sportsdesk:01234406224 EEASTdealtwithatotalof1,970 “Forthosecalling999witha Lilly’sconditionandhassincemadeithis
calls–doublethenumberofan genuinemedicalproblembut missiontoraiseasmuchaspossible for
aDvERTiSiNg averagenight–atanaverageof whichisn’tanemergencywe hertoreceiveapioneeringtreatmentin
morethan164callsanhour. wouldaskthemtotakenoteof America.
Commercialmanager: Andwitheachcallcostinginthe ourRightCallmessagewhich Inordertoraisemoney,hehasorgan-
JackieBevan regionof£200,around£394,000 explainshowcallsareprioritised, isedandperformedinnumerousbigscale
01582700800 wenttowardsattendingincidents. liketheyareinA&Edepartments, musicalproductions,andintheprocess
Althoughthenumbersweremar- toensurethepatientsinmost setuphisowncharityproductioncom-
[email protected]
ginallydownonthepreviousyear needgethelpfirst. pany,ONITProductions.
Advertising:01582700800
whentheservicereceived1,989 “Thosenotinlifethreatening Bradleysaid:“It’ssuchanhonourtobe
[email protected]
callswithinthesameperiod,they situationsshouldexpecttowait presentedwiththisaward.
Itisaconditionofacceptanceofadvertisement representmorethandoublethe longerforanambulanceresponse “You don’t volunteer to get awards –
ordersthattheproprietorsofLSNMediado numberofincidentscompared –whichinsomeminorcasesmay knowingyou’rehelpingpeopleisenough
notguaranteetheinsertionofaparticular withtheMondayandTuesday betelephoneadvice–depending motivation.
advertisementonaspecifieddate,oratall, fourweekspreviously. ontheirneedasassessedusinga “Butit’sgreattoknowthatpeopleappre-
althougheveryeffortwillbemadetomeet PeopleinBedfordshiremade206 comprehensivesystembyour ciatewhatIdo,andIhopethatthismight
thewishesofadvertisers;furthertheydonot callsbetween7pmonMondayand highlytrainedclinicalcall inspire other young people to give
acceptliabilityforanylossordamagecaused 7amonTuesday.Afurther113 handlers. volunteeringago.”
byanyerrororinaccuracyintheprintingornon callswerethenmadebetween RUSHEDOFFTHEIRFEET:Twiceas “Wehavededicatedclinicalsup- TerryRyall,vInspiredCEOsaid:“Bradley
appearanceofanyadvertisement,andreserve 7pmonTuesdayand7amon manycallsforParamedics portdesksinthecontrolroomsto isacompleteinspiration.
therighttoeditordeleteanyobjectionable Wednesday. supportpatientswithminorcon- “He has displayed empathy for others
wordingorrejectanyadvertisement.Although EEASTcontrolroomandfrontline helpedwithhospitaladmission ditionsasappropriatelyaspossi- andhasshowngreatabilitytobuildposi-
everyadvertisementiscarefullychecked, staffrespondedto893callsand avoidance. blewithouttheneedtosendan tiverelationshipswhilstvolunteering.
occasionallymistakesdooccur.Wetherefore whenthefiguresarecomparedto Temporaryminorinjuriesunits ambulance.” “Heshouldbeimmenselyproudofhis
askadvertiserstoassistusbychecking thefirstSaturdayinDecember, werealsoused. Neiladdedthatthistimeof achievements.”
theiradvertisementscarefullyandadvise whentherewere1,087calls,a Ambulancebosseshaveasked reflectionshouldhopefullyinspire TheannualvInspiredNationalAwards
usimmediatelyshouldanerroroccur.We significantriseinnewyear peopletoconsiderlearninghowto peopletolearncardiopulmonary celebratetheachievements ofyoungvol-
regretthatwecannotacceptresponsibility demandisevident. savealifeandunderstandinghow resuscitation(CPR). unteersandaimtochallengethenegative
formorethanoneincorrectinsertionandthat Theservicealsoboosted theambulanceserviceprioritises Hesaid:“Learningtosavealife attitudestowardsyoungpeople.
norepublicationwillbegrantedinthecase resourcestoprepareforthenight andrespondstocalls. canmeanthatifsomeonenear Theregionalwinnerswillbeshortlisted
oftypographicalorminorchangeswhichdo withjointinitiativessuchas‘see NeilStory,directorforemergen- youcollapsesandisunconscious, tonationalfinaliststhismonth,withthe
notaffectthevalueoftheadvertisement.To andtreat’tentsandSOSbuses cyoperations,said:“Mythanks youractionscouldmakethedif- overall winners revealed at an awards
ensureconsistentlyhighservicelevels,callsare operatingintowncentreswhich andpraisegoouttoallourstaff ferencebetweenlifeanddeath.” ceremonyinMarch.
randomlymonitoredbyasalesmanager.
DiSTRibuTiON newsbriefs
01582390365
[email protected] MANCHARGEDWITHGBH andwillappearbeforeLuton anothermanapproachedthecar bishingworkhasoverrun.
Ifyouhaveaqueryregardingthedelivery BedfordshirePolicehave MagistratesCourtonJanuary16. andthreatenedhimwithaknife. Theworkonthepremisesin
ofyournewspaperorwouldliketojoin charged a28-year-oldmanwith Thevictimwasthenforcedout GeorgeStreet,Luton,was
ourteamasateenageoradultnewspaper GBHfollowinganassaultinthe WOMANTRICKSMANINROBBERY ofthecarandtwomobilephones expectedtotakefiveweeksand
deliverercontactourdistributiondepartment WhitehousePubinLuton. Amotoristwasejectedfromhis werestolen. startedinOctober2012.
onthetelephonenumberabove. LeonWarner,ofTheLinkin carandrobbedafterbeinglured Anyonewithinformation AspokesmanforMcDonald’s
HoughtonRegis,Dunstable,was intoassistingapedestrian. shouldcallBedfordshirePolice said:“Hopefullycustomerswill
LEaFLETDiSTRibuTiON chargedbyofficersfromthe The30-year-oldmanwassit- on101. reallynoticethedifferencewhen
SouthBedfordshireSerious tinginhiscarinCheapside, were-open,anditwillhavebeen
01582390357 InvestigationTeaminconnec- Luton,onDecember30at7pm MCDONALD’SREFURBGOESON worththewait.
mailto:[email protected] tionwithanassaultthathap- whenawomanapproachedhim Abranchoffast-foodchain “Weareinstallinganewkitch-
www.mailboxdistribution.co.uk penedonOctober29,2012. askingforhelp.Whenhe wound McDonald’swillremainclosed enandhaveextendedsothat
Totargetyourbusinessmessagebyleaflet Warnerwasreleasedonbail downhiswindowtospeaktoher, foranumberofweeksasrefur- thereismoreseating.”
withinourdistributionareasthenplease
callthetelephonenumberabovefor
informationandprices.
onsunday
LUTON
WhERETOFiNDuS
28KingStreet,Luton,
BedsLU12DP
www.luton-dunstable.co.uk
Phone:[phone]
Fax[phone]
Officeopen9am-5.30pmorbyappointment.
PublishedandoriginatedbyLSNMediaLimited.
PrintedbyCambridgeNewspapers,WinshipRoad,
Milton,Cambs,CB46PP.Price£1wheresold
TherecycledpaperconTenTofUK
newspapersin2011was78.9%
Theenvironmentisimportanttous.Luton
onSundayisprintedonpaperproduced
fromenvironmentallymanagedforests.
pleaserecyclethisnewspaper.
hereisasimplewayofkeepinguptodatewith
events24hoursadayon
www.luton-dunstable.co.uk
allyouhavetodotouseourQrcodeis
downloadaQrreaderapptoyoursmartphone-
therearelotsoffreeonesavailableonline.Then
scanthecodeandourwebsitewillloadforyou.
Tnews0w158270770o7|advertisineg01582a70080s0 yJet dramas LUTONONSUNDAY |www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|January6,2013|3
bring in the new year
BYLAURENARCHELL
[email protected] DOWN...andupagainasaircraft
doesa‘go-around’
TWO dramatic landings were made at
LutonAirportinthespaceofthreedays.
OneeasyJetpilotwasforcedtomake
anabortedlanding,whileanotherchose
tomakeadiversiontotheairportafter
gettingintotechnicaldifficulties.
Thefirstincidenthappenedataround
12pmonSaturday,December29,whena
flightfromGenevatoLutonwasaffect-
edbyhighwindsandtorrentialrainasit
approachedtherunway.
Astheplanebegantodescendtotouch
down,thepilotstoppedtheprocedure,
and decided to perform a ‘go-around’
andmakeasecondattemptatlanding.
Onewitnesswhosawthemanoeuvre
said:“Iwasattheairporttakingweather
related pictures when I photographed
G-EZUJcomingintoland.
“The aircraft was observed from its
final descent onto the runway shortly
aftermidday.
“Iwascapturingthespraythatalways
accompaniesawetlandingandsnapped
awayastheaircrafttoucheddown.
“It landed, bounced, bounced again ing with the windsock blowing out at An easyJet spokesperson said: “On
andthentherewasahugenoiseasthe rightanglestotherunway.” Saturday, the captain on G-ZEUJ took
pilot pushed the aircraft into an OnNewYear’sEve,apilothadtotake thedecisiontogo-aroundasaprecau-
immediatetakeoff. actionforasecondtimeafteroilbegan tion,andtheplanelandedroutinelyon
“I have to assume, as the wind was leakingintooneoftheengines. itssecondapproach.
gustingveryhard,thattherewasaprob- More than 150 passengers were “WecanconfirmthatflightEZY6908
lemwith‘windsheer’orsimilarhence onboardtheplane,whichwastravelling flyingfromGenevatoEdinburghdivert-
theemergencyactiontakenbythepilot. from Geneva to Edinburgh, when the edtoLondonLutonAirportonMonday
“The aircraft was airborne again emergencylandingwasmade. duetoatechnicalissue.
almost immediately. They would nor- Itisthoughtthattheplanewasaround “Again,thecaptaintookthedecisionto
mallytakeofffurtherdowntherunway. Cambridgewhenthecaptainmadethe divertasaprecautiononly.
“After ten-15 minutes the aircraft decisiontotakethediversionandland “Thesafetyofourpassengersandcrew
returnedtoLutonmakingaproperland- atLuton. isourhighestpriority.”
Woman left shocked by assault
AWOMANwasleft‘shocked’afterbeing betweenherlegs. Hesaid:“Webelievethismanmayhave
grabbedbetweenthelegsonNewYear’s Thewomanthenhittheassailantinthe beenhangingaroundinStGeorge’s
Day. facebutheheldherhandsandhither SquarepriortofollowingthevictimandI
The25-year-oldvictimwaswalkingat back,beforeturningandwalkingback wouldurgeanyonewhowasoutonNew
thejunctionofFrederickStreetandOld towardsthetowncentre. Year’sEveandcanhelpidentifytheman
BedfordRoadataround2.30amwhenshe BedfordshirePolicesaidtheassaulthas responsibleoranyonewhosawthe
confrontedamanshebelievedwas leftthewomanshocked. incidenttocomeforwardandspeak
followingher. DetectiveConstableMikeRobinson,who withofficers.”
Herepliedthathewasandwhenshe isinvestigating,iskeentotraceanyone AnyonewithinformationcancontactDC
triedtoremovehermobilefromherbagto whosawwhathappenedoranyonewho Robinson,inconfidence,on01582394312
phoneforassistancethemangrabbedher canhelpidentifythemaninvolved. orBedfordshirePoliceon101.
4|January6,2013|www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|LUTONONSUNDAY news01582707707|advertising01582700800
news01582707707|advertising01582700800 LUTONONSUNDAY |www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|January6,2013|5
Luton HIV rate is
highest in region
BYCARLMUNGAZI tionswillcontinuetooccur.Totacklethisproblem
[email protected] andthestigmastillattachedtothevirus,wemust
increase understanding about HIV – how it’s
passedonandhowpeoplecanprotectthemselves
ONEinfourpeoplelivingwithHIVinLutonis andothers.
unawareofit,newfiguresrevealedthisweek. “It’scrucialforpeoplelivinginLutontobeaware
Andthenumberofpeoplelivingwiththedisease ofthefactsaboutHIVandknowhowandwhereto
inthetownisnearlythreetimesthenationalaver- get a free, confidential test if they’ve put them-
ageaccordingtofiguresfromtheHealthProtection selvesatrisk.
Agency(HPA). “It’salsoreallyimportantforourlocalcouncilsto
Thedatameansthetownhasthehighestnumber continueinvestinginHIVpreventionworkwhen
ofpeopleintheEastofEnglandlivingwithHIV, theytakeoverpublichealthbudgetsnextyear.
with 534 individuals diagnosed as having the “WhatisstrikingabouttheHPA’sdata,ishowit
disease. reallyshowsbothoursuccessesandourshortcom-
Deborah Jack, chief executive of the National ingsintacklingHIVintheUK.
AIDSTrust(NAT),saidthelackofawarenesscou- “Ontheonehand,wecanhailtreatmentasareal
pled with high infection rates meant that ‘new successstory.Treatmentiseffective,peoplediag-
infectionswillcontinuetooccur’. nosedwithHIVcanaccessiteasilyanditiswork-
Shealsocalledforanincreasedunderstandingof inginkeepingthevirusundercontrol.
thediseaseandtacklingthestigmaattachedtoit. “However,whenitcomestoincreasingtheuptake
Just over four out of every 1,000 people in the oftesting–thegatewaytotreatment–ourservices
townlivewithHIV,whilstnationallythenumberis arepatchy,inconsistentandultimatelywearestill
1.5in1,000. failingtomakeanysignificantheadwayintack-
Furthermore,nearly60percentofpeopleliving lingthehighratesofundiagnosedHIV.”
inLutonwithHIVhavebeendiagnosedlate,and AreportpublishedlastyearbytheHPAestimat-
thishaspotentiallyseriousimplicationsontheir edthatattheendof2011,96,000peopleintheUK
longtermhealth. werelivingwithHIV,withthehighestinfection
MsJacksaid:“LutonhasthehighestratesofHIV rates reported among homosexual men and the
intheEastofEnglandandaquarterofpeoplewith blackAfricancommunity.
HIVareunawaretheyhavethevirus. Italsoshowedthat24percentofpeopleintheUK
“Aslongasthisfigureremainshigh,newinfec- livingwiththediseasedidnotknowit.
Armed robber is sent to jail
ANArMEDrobberwhodisguisedhimself
withabandanaandsunglasseshasbeen
sentencedtoeightyearsinprison.
MarkCrawford,25,fromEldonroad,
Lutonwasconvictedofhavinganimitation
firearmwithintent,robberyandhavinga
knife.
Crawfordhadbeenchargedbyofficersof
theSouthBedfordshirerobberyUnit,for
offenceswhichhappenedinParksideDrive
andSandringhamDrive,Houghtonregis,in
April2012.
Duringthetrialthejuryhadheardhowhe
stolemobilephonesandaniPodwhilst
armedwithaknifeandanimitation
firearm.Hisyoungestvictimwas14-
years-old.
DetectiveConstablerebeccaKittssaid:
“ThereisnodoubtthatCrawfordisaviolent
manwhousedweaponstomakehisvictims
fearhim.Weareverypleasedwiththissen-
tencing.Itmeansthepublicwillbesafe
JAILED:MarkCrawford
fromthismanformanyyears.”
6|January6,2013|www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|LUTONONSUNDAY news01582707707|advertising01582700800
news01582707707|advertising01582700800 LUTONONSUNDAY |www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|January6,2013|7
New Year honours
for local heroes
BYLAURENARCHELL
[email protected]
MEMBERS of Bedfordshire
Police staff, an ex-ambulance
serviceboss,andasuperinten-
dent at the Royal Veterinary
Collegewereamongthosewho
received awards in the New
Year’sHonourslist.
DetectiveSuperintendentNigel
Stone was awarded an MBE,
whileHeadofScientificServices,
Richard Johnson was honoured
withanOBE.
MrStone,55,hasbeenapolice
officer for 28 years, and has
workedinseriouscrimeinvesti-
gations, the missing persons’ GONGS:RichardJohnsonandNigelStonebothrecognisedfortheirwork
unit and the online investiga-
tionsteam.
Hesaid:“Iamveryhumbledto andtheteamswhichcontribute timeofmostneedandreducing
receive this MBE, as it reflects toitasawholeinBeds,Hertsand call times nationally’, and also
notjustmyownworkbutmore Cambs,asitisforme.” his role as the national ambu-
importantly,thehugeamountof Alsohonouredwasformerhead lanceleadforthe2012Olympics.
workdoneinBedfordshirebythe of the East of England ambu- Mr Newton said: “I am abso-
police and our partners across lanceservice,Hayden Newton, lutely delighted to receive this
thecountry.” whobecameoneofthefirstever awardandwanttothankevery-
Mr Johnson, 54, has been recipients of the Queen’s one who has supported me
awardedtheOBEforpioneering Ambulance Service Medal for throughout my time in the
thedeliveryofscientificservices DistinguishedService(QAM). ambulanceservice.”
to fight crime and protect the Amaximumoffourpeopleper Departmental Superintendant
public. The units he oversees year are picked to receive the Vivienne Heys from Luton was
include fingerprints, scenes of award, which was introduced alsohonouredinthelist.
crimeandimagery. thisJanuary. She was awarded an OBE for
Richardsaid:“Ifeelthehonour Thecitationnotedhis‘dedica- services to Higher Educational
isasmuchforforensicservices tion to helping patients at the andAnimalHealth.
8|January6,2013|www.luton-dunstable.co.uk|LUTONONSUNDAY Former lawyernews0g15827i077v07|aedvertisning01582700800
community service
BYCARLMUNGAZI healthandsafetybreacheswere
[email protected] foundfollowinganinspectionby
thecouncilofMrAhmed’sprop-
A‘LAWYER’hasbeensentenced ertyat35,DunravenAvenue.
to200hoursofcommunityser- Officersfoundayoungfemale
vice after failing to give infor- studentlivingintheatticspace,
mationtocouncilofficersinves- whichcouldonlybeaccessedby
tigatingalandlord. an unstable staircase, without
MichaelHarvey,ofHarveyLaw windows,ventilationorheating.
in Luton, was found guilty on Other hazards related to
four charges of obstructing obstructedfireexits,accumula-
counciltradingstandardsoffic- tions of rubbish, lack of fire
ers who were investigating doors,andlackoffirealarmsand
Khaled Ahmed, who has gone disrepairtotheproperty.
missingafterbeingfined£52,957 Furthermore, the officers dis-
for letting out a ‘death trap’ covered that the property was
house. operatingwithoutalicenceand
Councilinvestigationsrevealed it had been altered internally,
thatHarvey,whowasstruckoff causinganumberofpotentially
asasolicitorin2003,wasacting fatalfiresafetyhazards.
for the landlord and agents for UNSAFE:RoominDunravenAvenue Someoftheexistingbedrooms
thepropertyconcerned. hadbeenpoorlysub-dividedto
Butwhenaskedtoproducerel- rightsasregisteredsolicitors. gain additional smaller bed-
evant documents by a trading CouncillorMohammedAshraf, roomssomorepeoplecouldlive
standardsofficer,Harveyrefused portfolio holder for trading there. One bedroom measured
and claimed legal privilege. He standards,said:“Counciltrading justfivesquaremetres.
thenclaimedhedidnothavethe standards officers have a range MrAhmedwasfined£15,000
documents. ofpowerstodealwithcriminal forfailingtolicensetheproperty,
AtLutonMagistrates’Court,Mr offences. Anyone deliberately afurther£4,000foreachofthe
Harvey argued that he was not obstructing a council officer in ninebreachesoftheManagement
covered by the legislation and the course of their work risks ofHouseinMultipleOccupation
the actions of council officers legal action and a criminal Regulations2006whichtotalled
were‘disproportionate’. record.” afurther£36,000anda£15vic-
However, the judge described Harvey has also been ordered timsurcharge.Thecouncilwas
hisversionofeventsas‘incredi- topay£500councilprosecution alsoawarded£1,957costs.
ble’ and rejected his claims, costsinadditiontohiscommu- Totalfinesandcostsamounted
including his assertion that he nityservice. to £52,957, which is one of the
had the same legal privilege Earlier this year a number of highestfinesrecordedinLuton.