By Gavin Mackintosh-
Rogue landlord, Robert Crow admits that living in utter darkness is causing him an acute level of depression.
The usually animated and defiant landlord who has been worn down by nearly half a dozen legal battles had his electric supply meter removed by Ovo and has been in darkness for almost 8 weeks now.
Having lost a total of about 4 appeal cases against both the Magistrates and Crown Court against convictions relating to a breach of HMO conditions, Crow finds himself in the sad position of looking a beaten man.
Often self represented, the controversial 70 year old landlord who owns a £600,000 property in Southend Essex , had his housing benefit supply stopped after a court convicted him of persistent breaches and slapped him with a Criminal Behaviour Order
He has been represented once by a Barrister for a short adjournment, but always represented himself in cases after that, losing every single one. With a new barrister on board, suddenly obtained through legal aid. Crow is set for a legal challenge against a Criminal Behaviour Order prohibiting him from allowing anyone apart from family members stay at his property.
Mr. crow told The Eye Of Media.Com:
” I am feeling totally depressed about all this. Sometimes I just think I need to leave this country. I am a 70 year old man and they think its alright for me to have no electricity or water. Its terrible”.
Mr. crow gets reduced food at his local Tesco in the evenings where he is given further discounts on expired food. But he returns to darkness where three other tenants live and say the property is infested with rats.
”None of us take a shower here, there is no electric and the shower place had mould growing there anyway”. Neighbours in the posh area have complained of drug addicts and alcoholics hanging outside mr.Crow’s property, and rubbish that cheapens the quality of the area
A previous visit to the property in Devereux road revealed mould growing in the fridge, with out of date food begging to be thrown away
.Homeless woman waits outside mr.Crow’s door.