JB Spray: Ready to resist eviction

A judge granted a posession order for the JB Spray factory in Radford on Monday morning. The order gives the legal right for David Andrew Phillips, the legal owner, to evict squatters from the building which has been occupied since last Spring. This will make the current occupants homeless, and place a wonderful building back in the hands of someone who has left it to rot for many years. The occupants want help resisting eviction so get down there if you can.

Newswire: Spray Squat prepare for possible eviction... again | J B Spray Squat, court date, Mon. 2nd Aug.resist! | JB Spray needs your help

Previous feature: Squatters Retake Nottingham's JB Spray Factory

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The case was heard in Nottingham's County Court. Several occupants and their supporters turned up to defend themselves. Representing Mr Phillips was a representative of the company that 'manages' the building on his behalf, a Miss Tracy Mallet. Miss Mallet is none other than the person who falsely claimed to be the owner of the building during a previous illegal eviction of squatters in 2006: http://nottinghamshire.indymedia.org.uk/2006/07/344121.html - Miss Mallet is pictured in the first photo. She was accompanied by a man who did not participate in the proceedings.

The occupiers were served with a photocopy of a page from the Squat Lobster website which 'proved they were squatters' and an invoice from Hire Station for equipment used by the occupants to secure the leaking roof of the building. The judge referred to neither document.

The owner had submitted a statement saying the current occupants had not been granted a license to use the building, although one of the occupiers expressed doubt as to whether it was Mr Phillips who had signed the statement. The defence case rested on statements from occupiers that they had been informed that the group living in the building had been granted a license. The judge quickly ruled that, on the balance of probability, Mr Phillips was entitled to a possession order.

Miss Mallet did not pursue the occupiers for costs because 'they don't have jobs so probably don't have any money'. When the defence representative raised the concern that occupiers would be made homeless by an eviction, the judge rebuffed him saying that they should have realised that a possession order was sought. However, she did say that those in exceptional circumstances should petition the courts for an extension of stay in the building.

The occupiers were not surprised by the decision but are resolute in their intention to resist eviction from the building. They request help from anyone who sees the injustice of their situation. If you want to help the JB Spray occupiers get down there soon before the bailiffs do.

Links:

Advisory Service for Squatters