A rogue landlord from Letchworth has been given a suspended prison sentence for cementing over his tenants’ water supply.

An investigation found that Gurdial Singh Bains had failed to issue an agreement to the tenants at his semi-detached house in Sandy – managed on behalf of his mother – and when he wanted them to leave he failed to give them adequate notice.

He then tried to force them out by attempting to change the locks and also filling the stopcock chamber with cement so that they would have no running water, before parking his car over the water mains.

The 41-year-old, of Dunkerley Court in Birds Hill, was given an eight-month suspended prison sentence at Luton Crown Court, ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service and handed a three-month curfew from 9pm to 7am each day.

Bains was brought to justice following a joint investigation between Central Bedfordshire Council’s housing solutions and trading standards teams.

Councillor Carole Hegley, responsible for social care and housing at the unitary authority, said: “Cases like these can be notoriously difficult to bring to court, so I am delighted at this excellent result and that mother and son have now been brought to justice.

“Outrageous treatment of tenants like this will not be tolerated in central Bedfordshire.

“Residents who rent privately should be able to do so with confidence and not have to worry about their own personal well-being and safety.

“That is why we will vigorously pursue landlords and managing agents who threaten and intimidate tenants, as well as those who fail to produce the correct legal documentation.”

Bains’ mother – Jaspal Kaur Bains – was prosecuted for failing to supply the council with documents relating to the tenancies at the same Sandy property a year ago, as well as failing to issue a tenancy agreement and not giving the tenant her contact details.

After pleading guilty to four offences she was ordered to pay a total of £4,313.24 in fines, court costs and a victim surcharge.