Tenant evicted for drugs find

10:01am Tuesday 8th July 2008

A TENANT whose home showed "clear evidence of ongoing drug dealing" faces eviction.

At Croydon County Court on July 2, Broomleigh Housing Association was granted an outright possession order on 10 Upton Court, Blean Grove, Penge.

Tenant Jolene Mawhinney, aged 31, is to be evicted after District Judge AJ Mills made the order on the grounds there was "clear evidence of ongoing drug dealing" in the property. It will come into effect on July 15.

The court had previously heard a number of drugs and weapons were found following a police raid on the property in the early hours of February 29.

At the time of the raid, Mawhinney was staying at a friend's and her brother, Martin, a convicted drug user, was staying at the flat.

Six swords, a number of knives, three crossbows, a bayonet, an air rifle, a baseball bat and a rounders bat were found.

Police also found traces of cocaine and amphetamines with a street value of £1,600.

At an earlier hearing on June 26, Mawhinney told the court the weapons belonged to her brother.

Martin Mawhinney said they were part of a collection he had put together over the years.

His sister also said she had no knowledge of drugs being in her flat.

She said: "I didn't know my brother had become involved in drugs again.

"I wouldn't have let my brother in the property if I knew he was trading drugs."

Martin Mawhinney, aged 33, also told the court: "There's an outrageous amount of weapons there.

"I may be a drug user but I'm not a dealer. I took amphetamine because I got to 23 stone.

"My sister wouldn't have let me stay there if she knew what I was doing."

As he gave the outright possession order, the judge said: "I'm satisfied the premises had been used in connection with the use of drugs.

"The fact the tenant isn't the perpetrator is no defence.

"The defendant must face the consequences."

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