Wolverhampton Supported Housing provider guilty of withholding care to vulnerable
A Wolverhampton supported housing provider withheld care and threatened a vulnerable tenant whilst being paid taxpayers money, a court has heard.
Phoenix Supported Housing, provide accommodation on behalf of Wolverhampton Council, who brought the prosecution against the company at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Phoenix directors Davinder Chall, 41, and Kimberley Bethell, 38, based at All Saints Road, Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty to several charges concerning a property and a tenant on Park Street South, Wolverhampton.
Between January 2023 and February 2023, they caused distress to their tenant, which they were being paid to care for due to their vulnerable nature, by neglecting them and harassing them.
Prosecutor Mark Jackson said: "This has been a complicated case which is unusual in its nature for this court. We have accepted the pleas of the defendants and other charges will lie on file."
A third director Sanjeev Jangra, 41, who is a teacher based in Saudi Arabia, pleaded not guilty and the prosecution offered no evidence as he was out of the country when the crimes were committed.
Mr Jackson said: "We are satisfied Mr Jangra was teaching in Saudi Arabia when this happened."
Phoenix are paid hundreds of thousands of taxpayers cash to provide supported housing in HMOs across Wolverhampton. The company's profit for 2022 was £249,974 and for 2023 was £290, 290
On Wolverhampton Council's website, Phoenix Supported Housing promises to care for their tenants.
They boast: "We provide accommodation to anybody experiencing temporary or ongoing conditions in a harmful environment. We aim to ensure immediate accommodation is given to those in need, allowing them to improve their situation from a safe and stable environment.
"Our ethos is that accommodation must be a home, not a house. We are purposeful when considering living conditions and properties, ensuring that each accommodation is a good fit, by taking careful consideration of every individual’s unique needs. Ultimately, we are focused on providing the best service possible."
Recorder Marc Brown told Chall and Bethell: "You will have to return to this court to be sentenced. I note you are of previous good character but I will want to read pre-sentence reports regarding both of you."
Chall and Bethell will be sentenced on December 19 at Wolverhampton Crown Court. They could be sentenced to up two years imprisonment.
