A rogue Swanley landlord who illegally housed tenants inside of a Convent of Mercy building has been forced to pay £15,000 in fines and court costs.

Mr Mustafa Kemal Mustafa, 44 and of West Wickham in Bromley, was handed the hefty fine after a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, August 2.

He has been fined £5,000 and will have to cover the council's costs of £10,000.

The 44-year-old was found guilty of breaching a planning enforcement notice issued by Sevenoaks District Council in December 2016 which ordered Mr Mustafa to cease his makeshift hostel at the Convent of Mercy as it did not have planning permission.

Mr Mustafa ignored the notice and continued to house people in the former Convent until the Council obtained a closure order from Sevenoaks Magistrates’ in May last year following repeated anti-social behaviour.

This latest Council was supported by Kent Fire & Rescue Service, Kent Police and other agencies.

Cllr Lesley Dyball, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: "There is no doubt, people living in the former Convent of Mercy were at risk.

"This was an unsafe, unfit property operating without permission and neighbours had endured unacceptable anti-social behaviour for far too long.

"Despite the Council and our partners taking action on a range of issues, Mr Mustafa failed to deal with the problems.

"The safety of our residents is a top priority and the substantial fine demonstrates the seriousness of this case."

It's understood that officers from Kent Police attended the site numerous times since 2014 following reports of anti-social behaviour, on one occasion seizing a stolen vehicle.

As well as being used as a hostel, it's also understood that a Stop Notice was issued by the Environment Agency in 2017 following concerns that a car repair business was set up on the site without permission.