A HAMPSHIRE landlord has been prosecuted after his house was found in an “appalling” state of repair.

There were broken light switches, exposed wires, inadequate fire protection and no handrails on the stairs of all storeys of David Arundel’s property when an inspection took place.

He had also failed to acquire a mandatory licence reflecting the building’s status as a House in Multiple Occupation.

A trial took place at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court and Arundel, of High Street, Gosport, was given an 18 month conditional discharge. He was also ordered to pay £1,000 towards Gosport Borough Council’s costs in bringing the matter to court.

The council’s head of environmental health, David Palmer, said: “We were lucky in this instance that the matter was brought to our attention by the Police before any injury or harm occurred to those living in the property.”

Since the prosecution, Arundel has had no involvement with the property, in Brockhurst, Gosport, but works have now been completed and a single family has moved in.