Man who preyed on vulnerable tenants given Hackney’s first Criminal Behaviour Order
A man who targeted vulnerable residents and took over their homes has been given Hackney’s first Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), banning him from residential properties indefinitely.
Desmond Rodney, 38, of Dalston, was well known to the Council and Police, as he had preyed on a number of tenants over the past five years. He would befriend them and abuse that relationship by taking over their homes, using it as his own.
The Council’s Community Safety team worked with the housing associations involved to obtain the evidence necessary to remove him from the properties.
An Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO), that has been in force since 2012, is coming to an end on 28 February 2015.
On 3 February, Mr Desmond appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court for breaching his ASBO after he was caught in a part of the borough he was banned from. He was also charged with possession of Class A drugs.
The Council and Police used this court appearance as an opportunity to apply to the court for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO). The council officers attending made such a successful submission that the order was granted until “further order”.
Mr Rodney deliberately targeted some of the most vulnerable residents in our borough, with the sole aim of abusing that relationship. The safety of our residents is our number one concern. We were left with no other option but to secure the first CBO in Hackney. We are pleased that the judge put it in place indefinitely, as this will enable us to monitor him more closely.
If anyone is approached by or feels threatened by Mr Rodney they should contact the Police or the Council’s Wardens immediately.
The conditions of the order are that he must not:
· Enter any residential property in Hackney other than the address specified in the order
· Harass, assault, threaten intimidate or cause annoyance or nuisance to any employee or agent of Hackney Council (including Hackney Homes), other social landlord or any other Hackney resident in the Hackney area
· Enter Arcola Street, Shacklewell Lane, E9, Colvestone Crescent, E9 and Ball Pond Rd, N1.
A new law came into force in October 2014, replacing ASBOs with CBOs.