Moment Tory MP Gary Streeter is caught on CCTV ripping security camera off home he rents to single mother, 38, who he is battling to evict
This is the moment a Tory MP was caught on CCTV ripping a security camera off the home he rents to a single mother he is battling to evict.
Gary Streeter, who has been an MP since 1992, has been trying to get mother-of-one Layla Williams out from a bungalow on his farm.
Layla, 38, initially moved in to look after Mr Streeter’s horses in 2018 and house-sit while he and his wife were away after she started working for him two years earlier.
But the mother – who admits she hasn’t paid rent since January – claims that since he asked her and her 12-year-old son to move out, his actions has left them both in fear.
She had already installed security cameras at her home on the farm in Plympton, Devon, and has now captured footage of him ‘angrily’ ripping them down.
Gary Streeter seen on CCTV (right) tearing a camera off a bungalow currently occupied by tenant Layla Williams (left) who is behind on her rent
Other videos she has recorded include him attempting to bash the cameras with a stick and returning in what she said was a ‘panic’ to try and fix it after dumping in the bushes.
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Footage also shows Mr Streeter letting himself in through her gate – and looking in through the windows – including while Layla said she and her son were sleeping.
Mr Streeter has secured a Section 8 eviction notice against Layla at Plymouth County Court and said he would get the bailiffs round to remove her if she didn’t leave soon.
He denied any form of harassment and said he had ‘tried to show her kindness’ but secured the order on the basis she had not paid rent since January.
But Layla said she had stopped paying rent on advice after claiming necessary repairs weren’t being carried out – and evidenced a Section 21 ‘no fault eviction’ notice that was initially served as proof of his initial intentions.
Layla, who has now found a new property, said she did not fight the order and would comply with it and move out soon.
But she said she wanted to speak out about her treatment as she became concerned about his behaviour.
She added: ‘It has become very unsettling.
Other videos she has recorded include him attempting to bash the cameras with a stick
Mr Streeter has secured a Section 8 eviction notice against Layla at Plymouth County Court and said he would get the bailiffs round to remove her if she didn’t leave soon
‘I’ve caught him on CCTV ripping my camera off the wall, trying to get through a gate that I’ve now had to padlock and staring through my windows.
‘The only conclusion I can draw is that he was trying to intimidate me. He has wanted me out for a long time.
‘He’s initially served me with a ‘no fault’ eviction notice so this shows this was motivated by pure and utter greed to make more money.
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‘I will comply with the court order and leave without a fight.
‘But I have had every right to be here and live without feeling harassed. It’s been our home for many years.’
Layla said she had three cameras put up, but he only seemed to be aware of one.
She added: ‘I literally watched him tear one down – dump it in the bushes and peer through the window.
‘This is surely no way for a MP to behave. He’s been totally out of control..’
Mr Streeter has been a Conservative MP for South West Devon since 1997, previously holding the nearby seat of Plymouth Sutton between 1992 and 1997.
Layla, who has lived in the area around Plympton her whole life, said: ‘It’s been frightening at times – thinking about him staring in through my window – when I could be in bed.’
Layla said she started working for ,Mr Streeter in the beginning of 2016 looking after their horses and mucking out.
She would also house-sit and look after their dogs when they were away.
Footage also shows Mr Streeter letting himself in through her gate – and looking in through the windows – including while Layla said she and her son were sleeping
And she moved in two years later to a property on his land to ‘make things easier.’ She stopped working for him in 2020 but remained on site as a tenant.
She added: ‘Since then every time I have complained about anything on the property or anything that was broken – he has threatened to kick me out. He was doing it all the time.’
Layla says this was when she felt he started to harass her to try and get her to leave.
She added: ‘I am scared to stay here. In one of the videos, he fully rips it off and dumped it in the bushes.
‘You can see he later started panicking and picked it back up and you can see him trying to get it back on – but he has broken it. You can see what a state he’s in.
‘His actions, especially being an MP, have been disgraceful.’
Layla said she had only withheld the rent since January after taking advice, due to the lack of work and necessary repairs at the property.
She said she had now reported the criminal damage to police via an online form – but had not yet heard back on any potential follow-up action.
Mr Streeter refused to comment on the accusations of criminal damage but denied any form of harassment and claimed he had been ‘patient and kind’ in dealing with her as a tenant.
Layla said she had only withheld the rent since January after taking advice, due to the lack of work and necessary repairs at the property
He said: ‘The tenant was served with a section 8 notice because she has paid no rent since January 2023.
‘For the past two years, to help her, we have accepted a lower rent of £550 pm for a two-bedroom bungalow in the South Hams, rather than £700 as per the tenancy agreement.
‘There has been no harassment at any time, just a great deal of patient kindness.
‘On 19th September 2023 Plymouth County Court granted an order for possession within 14 days, plus judgment for the £4,400 arrears plus costs.
‘The bailiffs will be instructed as she has still not vacated.
‘I will not be making any further public comment.’
Layla said she was now ‘in the process’ of moving out and had found alternative premises.
Devon and Cornwall Police said it was not able to comment on any of the allegations.
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