'Knight' moved into council flat despite owning four homes

A self-styled knight was evicted from a London council flat after investigators discovered he owned four other properties.

The man, known as Sir Barry Brooks, was ordered out of the two-bedroom flat in Primrose Hill after Camden council found he owned properties across the country.

Brooks, 47, who bought his knighthood on the internet when he was a student, was found guilty of breaching his tenancy, the council said.

He had moved into the flat in 1998 after telling housing officers he was homeless.

But suspicions were raised after council officers saw two Jaguar cars - a gold XKR sport and a silver XJS - with personalised number plates parked outside a detached property in Bromley.

Investigations revealed he owned two houses in Bromley, a property in Exmouth, Devon, and a house in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, worth about £700,000.

David Padfield, the council's assistant director for housing management, said: "This kind of abuse of council homes is completely unacceptable.

"Camden Council will always take action against those who take homes away from the people who really need them."

A judge at Central London County Court ordered Brooks to pay rent arrears of £3,182.34 and costs of about £9,500.