An Oxford landlord who failed to deal with a faulty drain that led to a rat infestation has been prosecuted by Oxford City Council.

Aslam Javid Dogar, of Lime Walk, Headington, pleaded guilty at Oxford Magistrates' Court to failing to comply with a legal notice served under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act.

He was fined a total of £365 and issued with a £112.10 repair bill from the council after he failed to fix the fault at a property in Cardwell Crescent, Headington.

Environmental Health officers visited the house in May, after a call from tenants, and found an extension had been built over a drain, meaning the rodents could get into the cavity wall.

Dogar was given until June 4 to rectify the problem, but when officers returned to the property on June 9 they found no repairs had been made.

Councillor Ed Turner, city council board member for housing, said: "This is yet another case of a landlord letting his tenants and the wider community down. The message to landlords is clear — if you don't meet your obligations to your tenants and to the wider community, we will prosecute you."