A man has been sentenced to six months in jail for repeatedly attempting to expand his house without obtaining planning permission. Trevor Hadjimina was found guilty of contempt of court for ignoring a judge’s order to stop construction work at his property in Peckham, South London, where he has resided since 1991.
Southwark Council initiated legal action against Hadjimina in 2017 for his unauthorized building efforts on top of a single-story extension. Despite being issued an injunction in 2018 to halt unauthorized construction, Hadjimina continued with the work, claiming it was a caravan. The council returned to court last year, accusing him of breaching the injunction.
Although Hadjimina initially agreed to dismantle the structure, he resumed building activities, leading to the court sentencing him to six months in prison for contempt. The judge highlighted Hadjimina’s repeated defiance of court orders and noted his disregard for planning laws. The judge emphasized that Hadjimina’s actions posed a direct challenge to the authority of the court and the rule of law.
The judge imposed the jail term, stating that Hadjimina’s deliberate and flagrant breaches of the court order could not be excused. The judge warned against adopting theories like those of freemen of the land, as they often lead individuals into conflict with the legal system, resulting in severe consequences.