A rogue landlord who left a property with damp, mould and holes which left it vulnerable to rat infestation has been ordered for pay more than £5,000.

Hastings Borough Council took Terence Paxman, of Woking, Surrey, to court after he failed to comply with an improvement notice for a home in Braybooke Road, Hastings.

The local authority claimed Mr Paxman did not remedy problems with damp, fire safety and domestic hygiene hazards 18 months after being told.

This included not providing rubbish bins for tenants or installing smoke alarms.

Mr Paxman initially pleaded not guilty, but then changed his plea to guilty.

He was fined £4,250 and told to pay full costs and a victim surcharge to the local authority.

Speaking afterwards, George O’Reilly, station commander at Hastings Fire station, said: “This property was simply an accident waiting to happen, with possibly tragic consequences.”

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