The owner of the Ocean Hotel in Sandown has been called before Isle of Wight magistrates, but failed to show up.
Stephen Purvis, 41, of Ferryhill, County Durham, is charged with failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice (CPN), that no action has been completed, started or even attempted in his property at Sandown.
Purvis failed to attend court
Mr Purvis failed to attend the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court today (Tuesday, 13th September) for the case’s first hearing.
The case has now been adjourned until 4th October.
Warnings ignored
In June, Hampshire Constabulary issued the CPN against Phoenix Commercial Property Developments — Mr Purvis’ company — following a warning in May.
He had a month to board up every access point and install a perimeter fence and CCTV around the hotel but no action was taken to make the building secure.
In July, Hampshire Constabulary said PCPD had ‘acknowledged the receipt’ of the CPN, but failed to comply with its deadline.
Only second CPN issued against a company in the country
Sgt Ben Sharland, of the South Wight Neighbourhood Policing Team, said at the time, it was only the second time a CPN had been issued against a business or company in the country.
Due to breaching the CPN, the police issued a court summons which went unanswered today.
Vandalism over the weekend
Over the weekend, Isle of Wight police officers were called to the hotel on Sandown Esplanade after two teenage boys broke in and were seen to cause damage.
The Isle of Wight Council had also issued an enforcement notice against PCPD, earlier this year.
Appeal thrown out
PCPD appealed, but a lack of communication and involvement from PCPD saw magistrates throw out the appeal and restart the tidy-up order.
PCPD had to pay the council’s legal costs of £2,000.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
