Landlord accused of harassing gay tenants, even after they ended their tenancy

A gay couple have reported their former landlord to the police after a campaign of homophobic abuse that continued even after they moved from his property.

Olly McLellan, 32, and partner Scott Cole, 30, said their landlord would shout homophobic abuse at them, block their driveway and even refuse to fix things because of their sexuality. The pair ended the tenancy early after they used CCTV cameras to catch landlord Jason Gwillim searching their flat without permission, and moved to a new flat in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. However, the landlord tracked their new address down and sent a card, which read: “The ugly poofs – sleep well”.

“We spent seven months being so paranoid, from moving out of that house into a new one felt like we’d finally not have to worry,” McLellan told The Metro.

‘But then to realise he’d found us and sent us more abuse was just unbelievable.

‘When we moved to Rickmansworth, we didn’t feel like we needed CCTV cameras anymore.

‘We didn’t think he would know where we live and now we’ve just been left worrying about when he’ll next attack us.

He added: “We didn’t want to stoop to his level and we refused to deal with him.

“I’m not sure if the estate agents told him before we moved in that we were gay, as they thought two guys were moving into a two-bed house.

“But it’s got nothing to do with him whether we’re just friends or in a relationship so long as we pay the rent on time.”

A spokesman for Herts police said: ‘Police are investigating following an incident at an address in Rickmansworth.

“It has been reported that a card containing an offensive message was delivered to an address and that bags of rubbish and grass trimmings were left outside the front door.

“Enquiries into the incident are continuing.”