According to the local rag The Argus, a squat in Kingsway, Hove was raided on Monday afternoon by a gang of six men carrying crowbars and baseball bats led by a Rottweiler. A group of 12 men and women have been using the site for about 3 weeks and were so terrified that they had to barricade themselves in an upstairs room.
Whilst they were up there the gang smashed the furniture, broke windows, ripped out the fuse boxes and pissed on their property including mattresses. Later that afternoon police arrested 3 men on suspicion of criminal damage and threatening behaviour.
According to one of the squatters "I was holding the (bedroom) door shut and they smashed it through with a crowbar, which cut my face and neck. There is a window at the side of the room and they smashed it to try and get in. One of them was kneeing the rottweiler in the head trying to wind it up and make it go for us. They said they would be back and we would be thrown out"
The two semi-detached homes are owned by a property development company called Stranmede Ltd. They originally applied to the police to report the occupation but were advised it was legal and there was no action they could take.
Then Stranmede boss David Martin decided to send the boys round. Seemingly admitting his involvement Martin said "it is a lot easier for the police to arrest 3 men rather than a dozen squatters"
According to one of the squatters "I was holding the (bedroom) door shut and they smashed it through with a crowbar, which cut my face and neck. There is a window at the side of the room and they smashed it to try and get in. One of them was kneeing the rottweiler in the head trying to wind it up and make it go for us. They said they would be back and we would be thrown out"
The two semi-detached homes are owned by a property development company called Stranmede Ltd. They originally applied to the police to report the occupation but were advised it was legal and there was no action they could take.
Then Stranmede boss David Martin decided to send the boys round. Seemingly admitting his involvement Martin said "it is a lot easier for the police to arrest 3 men rather than a dozen squatters"
Comments
Hide the following 11 comments
Address
29.11.2007 15:08
Surely the company who own this property should look at it that these squatters are actually looking after the property. A great shame that these scum let decent housing lie to rot to maximise profits.
@venger
do the right thing
29.11.2007 15:17
anarchist solidarity from London
a
i have address and phone number
29.11.2007 15:45
anyway they say revenge is a dish best served cold
Blackbyrd
Solidarity
29.11.2007 15:45
@venger
Scum
29.11.2007 16:28
See the Daily Torygraph 29/11/2007 (I kid you not) the piece is headed, " David Abrahams AKA David Martin". The story alleges that, " to his tenants he was known as David Martin, a name under which he has also held company directorships".
His address and details have been all over the papers lately. He has attracted considerable attention and might like some people to help him out. Go for it!
Rosa
Capitalists are about money
29.11.2007 17:43
remember
.
29.11.2007 17:49
pretty sure its a different David Martin
riotact
Homepage:
http://johnnyvoid.blogspot.com
too ofetn
30.11.2007 06:26
unfortunately i dont have the computer skills, but a web site or something needs to be set up to post names and addresses of these bastards!
FIGHT BACK!
fed up
A different David Martin
30.11.2007 10:43
squatthelot
similarities
30.11.2007 10:47
both have also spent vast sums doing up their homes and pissing off their neighbours
blackbyrd
Hove Park Developer
21.02.2008 18:17
Just so you know. The current residents of his former address are not related to him or his business in any way.
Phoebe