Tory MP caught on CCTV ripping off security cameras of woman he is trying to evict
Gary Streeter, who has been an MP since 1992, has been trying to get rid of Layla Williams for months after she stopped paying rent.
Watch: Tory MP caught on CCTV ripping off security cameras of mum he is trying to evict
A Tory MP has been caught on CCTV seemingly ripping a security camera from the home of a tenant that he is trying to evict.
Gary Streeter, an MP since 1992, has been trying to get Layla Williams out of a bungalow on his farm in Plympton, Devon, since she stopped paying rent in January.
Mother-of-one Williams, 38, initially moved in to look after Streeter's flock of horses in 2018 and house-sit while he and his wife were away after working for him for two years.
The MP for South West Devon secured a Section 8 Notice against Williams at Plymouth County Court and said he would get the bailiffs to remove her if she didn't leave soon.
He denied any form of harassment and added he secured the order because she had not paid rent for months.
But Williams said she had stopped paying rent on advice after claiming necessary repairs weren't being carried out.
She claimed a Section 21 'no fault eviction' had initially been served against her.
The mum, who has now found a new property, added that she did not fight the order and would comply and move out soon.
Williams said she had three security cameras put up.
She had started working for Streeter in the beginning of 2016, looking after their horses and mucking out.
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She moved in two years later to a property on his land to "make things easier."
She stopped working for him in 2020 but remained on site as a tenant.
Streeter has been a Conservative MP for South West Devon since 1997, previously holding the nearby seat of Plymouth Sutton between 1992 and 1997.
What Streeter said:
He has denied any form of harassment and claimed he had been “patient and kind” in dealing with her as a tenant.
He said: "The tenant was served with a section 8 notice because she has paid no rent since January 2023.
"For the past two years, to help her, we have accepted a lower rent of £550 pm for a two-bedroom bungalow in the South Hams, rather than £700 as per the tenancy agreement.
"There has been no harassment at any time, just a great deal of patient kindness.
"On 19th September 2023 Plymouth County Court granted an order for possession within 14 days, plus judgement for the £4,400 arrears plus costs.
"The bailiffs will be instructed as she has still not vacated.
"I will not be making any further public comment."
Yahoo News UK has contacted Devon and Cornwall Police for comment.
Section 8 Notice
Tenants who receive a Section 8 Notice have certain rights.
The landlord must have valid grounds for seeking possession of the property, and must specify these grounds in the notice.
The tenant has the right to be given a reasonable amount of time to address the issues specified in the notice and if they wish, can also contest the eviction in court if they believe that the grounds for removal are not valid.
The tenant is allowed to remain in the property until a court order for possession is granted and the bailiffs enforce the eviction.
