Brent Lea Resident Jailed

For Non Payment of Council Tax

A Brentford man has been sent to prison for 90 days for evading council tax payments over a period of six years.

Mr Abdikarim Suufi Islam, 41 of 3 Brent Lea, Brentford was sentenced to 90 days imprisonment for non payment of Council Tax of £4,222.03 up to 31 March 2009.

After paying only £340 in the last six years, Hounslow Council issued court proceedings in June 2009.  Mr Islam was eventually arrested and bailed to attend Court in January 2010 where he was ordered to pay £100 per month.

Mr Islam paid £200 and his case was reviewed in February 2010 where he was ordered to increase his payments to £115 per month.

No further payments were made after this date so a Warrant was issued for his arrest.  After clearing rent arrears of over £3,500, the District Judge decided that he had every opportunity to pay his Council Tax but failed to do so.

Family members have since raised the £4,222.03 on Friday 22 October to secure his release from Prison.

The news follows Julia Townend and Patrick Walsh, 48 from The Grove in Isleworth who were released on Wednesday 20 October after full payment was received by a family member to secure their release.

They were arrested October and sentenced to 60 days imprisonment, reduced to 32 days each after part payments were received, for continued failure to pay.

Cllr Ed Mayne, Hounslow executive member for community safety and enforcement said: “Both of these cases send out strong messages to the small minority of people in the borough who think they are above the law in not paying their council tax.

“The majority of hardworking people in the borough who pay their council tax can be safe in the knowledge that we crack down on residents who think they can avoid it. This way we can ensure that council services can continue to work to their potential.”

November 1, 2010