CAMBS: Guilty of illegally evicting mother and two children

A man who illegally evicted a mother and her two children has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Clive Geddes, of Newtown Road, Ramsey, appeared at Peterborough Crown Court, on December 18.

He had denied unlawfully depriving a residential occupier of the occupation of a property but was found guilty following a trial in November.

The court heard how 54-year-old Geddes, acting as the agent for the landlord of the home in Ramsey Forty Foot, entered the property, removed the tenant’s possessions and prevented her from returning by demanding she hand over the keys.

The woman and her children had to be found emergency accommodation by Huntingdonshire District Council.

Geddes was sentenced to 39 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Sean Enright said the victim had a good case to claim damages from Geddes in civil proceedings.

The council prosecution followed an investigation by its environmental health officers.

After the sentencing, Councillor Robin Howe, executive member for healthy and active communities, said: “This was a particularly callous act ... simply because the agent found a tenant who would pay more rent for the property.”