A rogue landlord has been fined thousands of pounds after dozens of people were discovered living in his back garden in High Wycombe last year.

On July 10 2017 police officers raided two homes in Micklefield Road after “serious concerns” were raised over the safety of the people living in the homes.

Vasile Dragan, of 165 Micklefield Road, has been slapped with a £13,373 fine after three outbuildings equipped for up to 28 people to live in were found in the gardens of numbers 163 and 165.

Wycombe Magistrates’ Court heard police found “overcrowded and unsafe” living conditions at the properties - including a converted garage with no insulation in the roof, six beds, limited personal hygiene facilities and no smoke detector.

Another building was found at the back of number 163 containing a single shower room and toilet which was used by nine people who shared three bedrooms.

The legal requirement for a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) is one toilet for every five people, which should be separate from a shower.

A third building was found in the garden of 165 Micklefield Road was set up to accommodate 13 people - containing a shower cubicle, wash basin and a bedroom with two bunk beds and a single bed.

Mattresses were also found stored on one of the upper bunks, and four bunk beds were found in a second and third bedroom.

The 50-year-old pleaded guilty to three charges relating to the Housing Act 2004 Magistrates Court on Wednesday, March 7.

The only food preparation area the residents had was a brick-built barbecue which was “exposed to the elements”.

He was found to have “failed to take all such measures as were reasonably required to protect the occupiers of the HMO from injury having regard to the design of the HMO, the structural conditions in the HMO and the number of occupiers in the HMO.”

Deputy leader of Wycombe District Council, councillor Dominic Barnes, said: “This is the worst case I have seen.

“This landlord has taken rent but not provided adequate living conditions for these tenants and has shown a total disregard for the laws of the land which exist to protect people from this kind of exploitation.

“I am proud that we were able to work so well with Thames Valley Police and take swift and effective action to put a stop to this illegal accommodation and bring the landlord to justice."