Tenant Caught Glueing Protest Posters To Landlord's Listed Building

A disgruntled tenant was caught glueing homemade posters to the Grade Two listed building of his landlord's during a protest over his living conditions.

Jobless Alan Godwin, 57, of Gatliff Close, Ebury Bridge Road, Pimlico caused damage to the stonework of the landmark building behind Buckingham Palace, which now needs specialist treatment to repair.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court to seven counts of causing criminal damage to 21 Grosvenor Place (pic.top) between March 18 and May 28 and was sentenced to a twelve-month community order.

The court heard that Godwin (pic.bottom) has an ongoing dispute with Citywest Homes and claims he is suffering anxiety due to the smell of drugs wafting through his windows.

CCTV was installed to find the culprit after the posters began appearing over the weekend and the defendant was identified.

The posters contained similar complaints to the ones Godwin had written to his landlord's about.

On June 4 police visited Godwin's home, where he was arrested and the tell-tale posters and glue was found.

He was walked over to Belgravia Police Station where he made full admissions, conceding the suspect caught on CCTV was him.

The court ordered Godwin to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

No compensation order was made.