It's been a busy week for Hertfordshire's courts, and here are three Watford residents who had appeared before a judge in the past seven days.

1. Syed Yasir Shah

Syed Yasir Shah has been ordered to pay £26,535 for a raft of house in multiple occupation (HMO) failings.

Shah, of Vicarage Road, was taken to St Albans Magistrates’ Court by the borough council on Wednesday, April 10, having been accused of 13 offences at 313 Vicarage Road.

They ranged from allowing more people to stay in his house than was authorised by the HMO licence, to fire safety breaches including electrical sockets hanging off walls, not having clear escape routes, and no adequate alarm system.

The landlord also converted a fire escape passage into a bedroom, which was kept locked and prevented getting onto the street.

WBC said the breaches, which posed "significant risks" to tenants, came to light after two raised concerns about ongoing building work at the property.

Shah admitted all counts and was hit with multiple fines and charges. His guilty pleas were taken into account during sentencing, according to court papers.

2. Anaib Mohammad

Anaib Mohammad has been sentenced to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay costs of £8,512, after pleading guilty to four counts of fraud.

Mohammad was charged with making a false representation to Hertfordshire County Council by submitting a false insurance claim.

Mr Mohammad made two separate claims to the Council in 2020, stating he had hit a pothole damaging his vehicle which left him with back and neck injuries. Mr Mohammad was claiming £650 for the damage done to his vehicle.

When questioned by officers from Hertfordshire’s Shared Anti-Fraud Service, the 53-year-old, of of Trinity Hall Close, lied stating he knew nothing of the claim to the council, and that it was possibly a neighbour or local drug dealer who had submitted the claim in his name. He also stated he sold the car in question in January 2020.

The investigation found that the invoice that he supplied to the council was fraudulent. The company from where the invoice allegedly originated provided a statement to confirm that it was not theirs and that they had not undertaken any work.

3. Jessica Ellis

Jessica Ellis will be sentenced after she broke into McDonald's three times.

The 28-year-old, of Coates Way, appeared at Hatfield Magistrates' Court on April 11, in connection various theft and burglary offences committed between November 2023 and March.

had been charged with seven counts of burglary, five thefts, two attempted thefts, one attempted burglary, fraud by false representation, and breaking a community protection notice.

Ellis pleaded guilty to all charges at different court dates between January and March. She will be sentenced for all offences together at Stevenage Magistrates' Court on May 30.

Among the crimes was breaking into a McDonald's in Watford three times in December and February, stealing cash up to £25 each time. It is unclear specifically which branch was targeted.

On March 7, the 28-year-old made off with Airbud headphones worth £100 from B&M and just days later attempted to steal with a charity donation box from a KFC in Watford.

Most recently, she attempted to use another person’s bank card to withdraw £120 for herself in the town on March 21.