JOBLESS DAVID GOULBOURN’S ATTEMPTS AT DIY IMPROVEM

JOBLESS DAVID GOULBOURN’S ATTEMPTS AT DIY IMPROVEMENTS TO HIS

COUNCIL FLAT CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT WHEN HE REMOVED A VITAL

PIECE OF PLUMBING.

STARTLED NEIGHBOURS CALLED IN COUNCIL WORKERS WHEN WATER

STARTED POURING FROM 31 YEAR-OLD GOULBORN’S EIGHTH FLOOR FLAT,

REACHING DOWN AS FAR AS THE FIRST FLOOR.

‘THEY FOUND A GENERAL SCENE OF DESOLATION,’ SAID MR PERCY

JIGGINS FROM BRENT COUNCIL’S HOUSING OFFICE.

SKIRTING BOARDS AND CUPBOARDS HAD BEEN RIPPED OUT, THE NIGHT

STORAGE HEATER WAS IN PIECES, EXTRACTOR VENTS HAD BEEN CAREFULLY

PLASTERED OVER AND LOCKS, DOOR HANDLES AND LIGHT FITTINGS HAD ALL

BEEN REMOVED,

EVEN THE BATH LEGS WERE MISSING, AND THE TUB PROPPED UP ON

BRICKS, ACTON CROWN COURT WAS TOLD.

PLUMBING HAD ALSO BEEN TORN OUT, A STOPCOCK WAS MISSING AND

THE GAS SUPPLY HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH AND HAD TO BE CUT OFF, THE

COURT HEARD.

AND GOULBOURN FOUND HIMSELF CHARGED WITH CAUSING #4,468 OF

DAMAGED TO HIS FLAT AT JEFFRIES HOUSE, GRETT CRESCENT, HARLESDEN,

NORTH LONDON.

BUT AS COUNCIL OFFICIALS ONLY INSPECTED THE FLAT AFTER A

PLUMBER HAD MADE EMERGENCY REPAIRS THEY COULD NOT SAY WHAT DAMAGE

GOULBOURN HAD CAUSED.

AND AFTER HEARING THAT GOULBOURN HAD BEEN PUTTING UP

WALLPAPER IN THE ROOMS WHERE SKIRTING BOARDS HAD BEEN REMOVED, AND

MUCH OF THE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO THE EARLY STAGES OF

REDECORATING.

ASSISTANT RECORDER ANDREW PUGH ORDERED THE JURY TO RETURN A

VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY.

ENDS.