A rogue landlord who ran an illegal box-room empire must pay £1.5 million or spend nine years in prison.

Vispasp Sarkari, of Hawthorne Avenue, Harrow, continuously ignored planning rules and converted properties across north-west London into substandard flats without permission.

Harrow Crown Court heard that the 56-year-old would cram as many people as possible into these dangerous rooms and charge tenants extortionate rent.

His operation was brought down by a joint venture between Harrow and Brent Councils.

Cllr Keith Ferry, responsible for planning at Harrow Council, said: “Justice means taking the ill-gotten gains off this slumlord millionaire.

“This is a man who thought he couldn’t be stopped. He was wrong, and thanks to our joint work with Brent Council, Sarkari’s criminal venture is finished.

“But he’s not the only rack-rent landlord out there, wrecking lives and ruining our boroughs by running illegal flats and HMOs.

“My message to the others is this: we’ll never stop, we’ll never give up, and when we catch you, we’ll punish you too.”

Sarkari operated for at least five years in Brent and Harrow, ignoring several enforcement warnings from both councils and raking in thousands of pounds from those desperately seeking a roof over their heads.

His criminal enterprise included a one-bed house in Brent – converted into eight box-room bedsits – and four similar properties across Harrow.

He was ordered to pay an additional £12,000 and cover the costs for both local authorities in full.

It is believed that he might have several other properties across the two boroughs.

Cllr Tom Miller, responsible for community safety at Brent Council, said councils would continue to fight against those taking advantage of others.

He said: “Slum landlords won’t be tolerated – plain and simple.

“If you ignore planning laws or leave tenants to languish in poor conditions then we will find you, we will take action in court and we will win.

“Anyone we find flouting planning or exploiting renters will feel a deep hole in their pockets after we’ve taken them to task.”