Man convicted after operating eight unlicensed HMOs in Taunton area

A man has pleaded guilty to operating eight unlicensed HMOs in the Taunton area and has been ordered to pay costs and fines of more than £34,000. An HMO is a House in Multiple Occupation – a property rented out by at least three people who are not from one ‘household’ but share facilities like the bathroom and kitchen.

The details of people who have recently appeared at Taunton Magistrates Court can be seen below. Magistrates courts deals with more than 90 per cent of criminal cases.

These cases mostly include low-level offences, predominantly motoring charges. The details published below are from the official court register.

Darren Jarman, 51, of French Weir Avenue, Taunton, pleaded guilty to the charges of:

• Between February 14 2022 and December 6 2022, managing a House in Multiple Occupation at Gravelands Lane, Henlade, which was required to be licensed but was not licensed
• Between November 8 2021 and December 26 2022, managing a House in Multiple Occupation at Holford Road, Taunton, which was required to be licensed but was not licensed
• Between January 24 2021 and December 6 2022, managing a House in Multiple Occupation at French Weir Avenue, Taunton, which was required to be licensed but was not licensed
• Between November 8 2021 and December 6 2022, managing a House in Multiple Occupation at Parmin Way, Taunton, which was required to be licensed but was not licensed
• Between October 18 2021 and December 6 2022, managing a House in Multiple Occupation at Bossington Drive, Taunton, which was required to be licensed but was not licensed
• Between July 22 2021 and December 6 2022, managing a House in Multiple Occupation at Salisbury Street, Taunton, which was required to be licensed but was not licensed
• Between January 31 2021 and December 6 2022, managing a House in Multiple Occupation at Grays Terrace, Taunton, which was required to be licensed but was not licensed
• Between October 18 2021 and December 6 2022, managing a House in Multiple Occupation at Lambrook Road, Taunton, which was required to be licensed but was not licensed

Jarman was fined a total of £9,450 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £190 and £25,000 costs.

Briony Louise Lane, 41, of High Street, St Austell, Cornwall, was previously convicted of the charge of, on April 29 2022 at the Speed Enforcement Unit, Bristol, failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle who was alleged to have been guilty of an offence. Lane was given six driving points, fined £660 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £66 and £85 costs.

Daniel Twose, 36, of Southfields, Horton Cross, Ilminster, pleaded not guilty to the charge of, on September 13 2021, failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle who was alleged to have been guilty of an offence. Twose was found guilty by magistrates. Twose was given six driving points, fined £830 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £83 and £200 costs.

David Karl Neale, 59, of Taunton Road, Bridgwater, pleaded guilty to the charge of, on July 13 2022 at Sampford Peverell, driving a car transporter with a Land Rover Discovery secured with only two straps over each of the front wheels, involving a danger of injury to any person. Neale was given three driving points, fined £108 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £43 and £135 costs.

Christopher Pinnock, 33, of Crown Way, Middlemoor, Exeter, Devon, was proved guilty of the charge of, on September 13 2022 at the Speed Enforcement Unit, Bristol, failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle who was alleged to have been guilty of an offence. Pinnock was given six driving points, fined £660 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £264 and £620 costs.

References

1. ^{^} Two people dead after Audi RS6 and VW Polo collide in Frome (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
2. ^{^} Man tried to pull woman into car during kidnapping attempt in Yeovil (www.somersetlive.co.uk)