Beasley, 42, attacked his victim so fiercely he suffered a broken
collarbone, three fractures to his arm and he took a saw to
his hand, leaving him needing an operation.

Jailing him, Judge Richard compared Beasley, of
O x fo rd Ro a d , Ro t h we l l , t o unscrupulous landlord Peter Rachman who was notorious for exploiting tenants during the 1950s and 60s.

The court heard Beasley wanted Colin Villiers out of his property in Crispin Street, Rothwell, and went round to try to scare him. He left him needing hospital treatment and said "now you have met the landlord".

Judge Bray said: "This is a very serious assault. You attacked a man in his lodgings at night, you broke his arm in three places, you attacked him by sawing at his hand with a saw.

"You were effectively his landlord. You wanted him out of the
property so you threatened him and attacked him. This was Rachmanism.

"There must be a very lengthy sentence now to deter criminal
landlords like yourself from such acts."

Northampton Crown Court heard that Mr Villiers was due to be evicted from the property on June 18 after a series of disagreements between him and the landlady over unpaid bills.

In his statement Mr Villiers said: "As I entered my bedroom I
saw Beasley rushing towards me. He said 'you are a dirty smack head'.

He started hitting me. I could feel blows all over me. He told me to get out and not to come back. He said 'now you have met the landlord.'"

Beasley had previously pleaded not guilty to the attack on June
5, last year, claiming on the night he was at his home in bed with his wife.

But yesterday he was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and sentenced to six years.

Rebecca Wade, prosecuting, said: "Mr Villiers is an honest,
genuine man. The fact that he used to be a heroin addict
doesn't mean he wasn't telling the truth."

Turning to Beasley, she said: "This is a man who has
viciously attacked someone so much so that he had to have an
operation."

Derek Johashen, defending, had suggested to the jury that
Beasley did not attack Mr Villiers, saying the victim was a
former heroin addict who probably had enemies.