To report this man to his probation officer?

[JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows]

I rent out a property and I also manage the property next door for a friend/old neighbour who lives at the other end of the country - I'm not a letting agent, I just do it as a favour as I manage my own too.

I showed potential tenants around my friend's house a few months ago and after reporting back she initially chose a guy who could move in quickly and had references. However the character reference he sent me was from his probation officer - when I googled, he'd recently come out of prison for attacking and stalking his ex girlfriend. At this point, no contract had been signed and no money exchanged hands so my friend decided she didn't want a violent man in her house in case he damaged it. By coincidence, an inspection found that there were serious plumbing issues, so I said to the potential tenant that the landlord couldn't offer him the lease at the moment due to repairs (not great not telling the whole truth I know but I didn't feel safe/right telling him it's also because he's violent) and the property was no longer available but if anything changed I'd be in touch.

He messaged a few times since and I just said the property isn't available and repair work was ongoing.

Repairs were finished a month ago and my friend rented it out to her niece, I wasn't involved in finding anyone.

Today he walked past the house and saw someone was obviously living there. He rang me and I was caught off guard and said sorry to let him down but that was the landlord's decision. It's all kicked off since.

Anyway tonight I've spent my evening asking local Facebook pages and groups to remove the picture of me with "scam landlord" warning. They obviously don't understand that I'm NOT the landlord!! Two men have also been down to the properties knocking on doors to find out who has lived there and for how long. This has freaked my tenant out - she suffers from severe anxiety and is now panicking. My friend's niece wasn't it, but according to my tenant they tried her back door which was thankfully locked. I've also had threats on my phone from the potential tenant's family members. My friend said at this point to pass on her number and explain she's the landlord, which I've done but they haven't contacted her.

I don't know if either of the men who went down to the houses were the potential tenant, and the Facebook posts didn't appear to be from him. But this has really pissed me off on several levels - I've been publicly accused of 'scamming money out of them' even though none exchanged hands and it's not even my property - I'm a teacher and this could have serious repercussions if anyone at work saw it. Luckily the posts were swiftly removed.

Even though it appears to be a smear campaign from slightly batshit members of this bloke's family rather than him, WIBU to get in touch with his probation officer to let them know what's going on? I just want it to stop.

My tenant's mum has just messaged to say she is reporting the visit to the police and will pass on my info. She's staying at her mum's tonight.

This guy has essentially warned you what he's going to do. Take it as a threat, an immediate one (albeit implied rather than explicit) and report it tonight.

That's good. What a nutjob though.

I wouldn't be remotely shocked if a brick arrived through a window.

I worked for probation for years, report to the police and yes report to probation they won't be able to share anything with you but don't assume the police will tell probation, they often don't. He may be subject to licence.

It's unfortunate that you disclosed that the property was rented to a young woman. That's just his type.

Thanks all, I don't know much about the Probation Service, only the legislation not to offender contact, so wasn't sure if they'd go with the "but you can't prove it was him" line or if they are watertight with stuff like this.

I've done this managing 2 properties for years, and whilst I've dealt with people who are annoyed they didn't get the tenancy (though one chap once offered a bribe 🙄 didn't take it) I've never, ever come up against anything like this.

Keep an eye on the FB pages too, as other family members could post similar on his behalf.

Thanks @Therewereroses - I've created a fake profile and joined the groups as I've blocked him and his family members just in case.

Have you screenshots of the FB posts? They'll be useful to the PO or police potentially. If not, admins might be able to recover the deleted content.

I would say it's highly probably he is in fact on license if the reference from the PO is dated recently. Not an expert on that side of things either though!

Bloody hell what a nightmare, yes absolutely report him

OP, might not help you in the short term, but I know a few police forces are doing surveys on how to protect women, if they do try and fob you off, then highlight this on their facebook page or when you speak to them

Ok so I've dug out the probation officer reference and it actually gives contact details of his police community officer, and his social worker as he has a child with his ex. I think I will call his designated officer tomorrow and quite possibly his social worker.

His poor ex girlfriend.

His sentence actually apparently finished last month - will he still be a service user for the probation service does anyone know or does it end when their sentence ends?

Most of them get out after half their sentence, so he should be still 'on probation', which means that if he fucks up he's back inside afaik? Will leave to the actual POs to answer that though! I'm just talking through me arse here to keep you company.

I wonder why so keen on your property. Perhaps it's difficult to find housing I guess, being a convicted offender. With good reason obviously it appears!

Or your friend's property I should say.

Does the google article state where the poor ex lives? It might also be why he's keen on the property as it might be close to her! Dear God.

@Therewereroses

I wonder why so keen on your property. Perhaps it's difficult to find housing I guess, being a convicted offender. With good reason obviously it appears!

I'm guessing so - he didn't disclose he was on probation when I showed him round and I got no bad vibes from him so I reported back to my friend in a positive light. But he did say he found it hard to find a private letting these days

It's very unusual to have a designated police officer unless he's a sex offender or part of the IOM cohort (prolific acquisitive offending)

He has a history of violence towards women, so he really can't be underestimated. Has your tenant reported the incident yet?

@Therewereroses

Does the google article state where the poor ex lives? It might also be why he's keen on the property as it might be close to her! Dear God.

It doesn't.

I just googled him again, as I can't remember the details from the first time round.

He head butted his partner in the middle of the town centre and then kicked her in the stomach until the police came. FFS, I'm terrified now for the girls.

@KingdomScrolls

It's very unusual to have a designated police officer unless he's a sex offender or part of the IOM cohort (prolific acquisitive offending)

Had to google that and had been just about to ask was he wearing a tag thing on his ankle, but I suppose you wouldn't have noticed!

@KingdomScrolls the copper is a Rehabilitation Designation Officer (or similar)

@Therewereroses

He has a history of violence towards women, so he really can't be underestimated. Has your tenant reported the incident yet?

She's at her mum's, her mum called the police and they're coming in the morning. My friend has got in touch with her niece who's got her boyfriend over and feels safe.

I'll be gutted if I lose my tenant over this, she's lovely but really what kind of person who suffers from acute anxiety will want to stay now?!