John Russell Brown admitted the property housing 100 workers became 'a complete mess'

A landlord's been ordered to pay more than £70,000 for housing migrants in unacceptable conditions.

Over 100 workers from Eastern Europe were found living in a building in Deeside, owned by John Russell Brown.

He appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court for sentencing this morning having previously admitted 12 breaches of the Housing Act.

Flintshire Council found over 100 people living in the property. Credit: Flintshire Council

An earlier hearing, the court was told the workers were found living in cramped conditions at Hyperion House in Deeside. There were just six showers for over 100 people and the demands on the sewage system meant septic tanks were overbrimming. There were also various fire hazards.

The property was in a poor state of repair, but house over 100 workers. Credit: Flintshire Council

Brown's solicitor Richard Thomas said normally there would only be 20 to 30 people living there, but there was an influx of workers coming in between January and March last year. He said that the company sending the workers had threatened Brown that if he didn't take them in, they would end the business relationship and so Brown 'decided to juggle the situation as best he could.'

Ceiling panels were missing leaving wiring exposed. Credit: Flintshire Council

The court heard Brown accepted it had become totally disorganised and despite thinking he could work around the situation it had become a 'complete mess.'

Brown was ordered to pay a total of £21,400 for the breaches and £56,051 in court costs.

There were fire hazards throughout the property. Credit: Flintshire Council