A landlady has been fined thousands of pounds for failing to test a dangerous gas heater.

Ann Arain, of Sandford Mill Road, Chelmsford, was ordered to pay £2,500 and costs of £2,072 after admitting an offence under the Health and Safety Act.

But Witham Magistrates' Court heard on Friday that Arain was not able to get inside the house she rented out in Victoria Road, Chelmsford, because the tenant was harassing her.

The 53-year-old widow was charged after a health and safety officer served an improvement notice on her, ordering the gas boiler and heater in the house to be serviced.

The work was not carried out by the deadline and the heater was later found to be leaking gas.

Magistrates heard Arain had difficulties with tenant David Willis since he moved into the property in 1995.

Craig Rush, prosecuting, said: "Mrs Arain said that she tried to get in to the property on several occasions, but Mr Willis would not allow it.

"Whatever differences there may have been there is a clear obligation on the landlord to ensure the safety of the tenant."

He said relations between Mr Willis and Arain were so bad that there was an injunction preventing him from harassing her. Mrs Arain told the court: "My life, since the day I met Mr Willis, has been complete misery."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.