A HEALTH review will be carried out before Robert Crow is declared fit to attend a court hearing.

The hearing into Mr Crow’s alleged breach of a court order banning him from renting out his property to anyone but his immediate family will next take place on April 17.

Mr Crow, 69, appeared at Southend Magistrate’s Court today where the hearing was adjourned after the board of magistrates allowed for an assessment to be carried out on his health.

Only after this has taken place will he be declared fit to appear at a plea and trial prepation hearing.

The court order was imposed in September last year when Mr Crow was convicted of 18 offences related to the dangerous, insanitary and substandard living conditions of his property in Devereux Road, Southend.

The criminal charges related to the dangerous, insanitary and substandard living conditions of the property which he shared with his tenants.

During his appearance at court today, Mr Crow was told by a board of magistrates he must also pay a total of £714.18 in council tax for his property.

The funds are for council tax payments which he has missed from April last year to now.

Mr Crow told the hearing at Southend Magistrates Court that he had trouble with a previous tenant who had not given him any rent money during her time living at his property last year.

He said: “I had nothing from her in way of rent. She’s now moved away and I’ve been messaging her trying to get some payment, but heard nothing.

“I may well be liable, but the fact is I have no money. I’m on the verge of bankruptcy, all I have is £500 pension a month.”

Chair of the magistrates board Ray Brown issued a liability order for the council tax to be paid.

He said: “Mr Crow, despite your situation, you are definitely liable to pay this money.

“How you pay it is your problem, not mine.”

Mr Crow said he would be attempting to contact his former tenant in order to get the funds to pay his council tax.