Drug centre security probe as burglar is jailed for life

Security was slammed as 'haphazard' after a patient was able to slip out at night and raid homes in London to feed his 1,000 a day crack habit, a court heard.

Judge John Samuels, QC, called on probation chiefs to investigate the lapse of security at Phoenix House, in Pages Avenue, which allowed Moussain Boujetiff, to commit 17 burglaries while serving a drug treatment and testing order at the centre last year.

His action has sparked renewed calls locally for the centre to be closed.

The revelations came at Blackfriars Crown Court, where Boujetiff was sentenced to life imprisonment after admitting two charges of burglary, one charge of aggravated burglary, two charges of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence, two charges of wounding, one charge of having an article with a blade or point, two charges of robbery and two of kidnap.

The court heard that in drug tests he passed off other people's urine as his own and, unbeknown to staff at the centre, he was leaving at night to commit violent burglaries.

Judge Samuels, said "The probation authority should satisfy themselves that they (Phoenix House) are complying with the responsibility the court expects of them.

"I send people to residential rehabilitation centres and when I do I expect them to be properly looked after.

"It does cause me concern. The manager at the unit confirmed that security is not all it might be and that is a matter I will ask my senior probation officers to investigate on my behalf."

David Markham, prosecuting, told the judge that officers had since visited the centre and found a "picture of haphazard security."

Boujetiff, 24, was sentenced to a two-year drug treatment and testing order at Phoenix House, last September, after being caught in an armed raid earlier in the year.

Police at the time did not know he had previously robbed two women after threatening to stab a 22-month old baby.

In November, appeal judges agreed his punishment was too lenient and re-sentenced him for four years, by which time he had absconded from Phoenix House and was committing more crimes.

They included the stabbing of a London banker and causing injuries to the man's wife during a robbery in Notting Hill.

He was finally caught on December 10 after a police surveillance operation.

The Observer approached Phoenix House for a comment.

A statement said: "The news that a DTTO (drug treatment and testing order) client that was previously a resident at one of our Services was jailed for life has been met with concern by Phoenix House.

"DTTOs are designed to offer a long-term solution, for those people whose crimes are thought to be caused by their addiction to drugs. In this case, this regretfully did not work."

"In light of the incident Phoenix House (pictured) has instigated a full investigation into these incidents and will be putting in place further measures to minimise any future recurrence."

A spokesman for West Bexhill Residents Association, who have campaigned against Phoenix House being situated in the town, said: "On March 10 1999 the town was warned by the West Bexhill Residents Association that hard drugs were in fact being introduced to the town.

"Our facts at the time were ignored, and Phoenix House with the aid of a local MP, and the intervention of Prince Charles, assured local residents 'our fears were groundless.'

"The WBRA stand by their conviction that Bexhill is not a suitable place for such inmates, and yet again Phoenix have broken their firm promise to the town. Now is the time for this centre to be closed down. Rother District Council please take action now, not after further troubles."

r PHOENIX House is a national charity and special needs housing association, designed to allow substance misusers an opportunity to rebuild their lives in a way to end their dependence on drugs.

The charity's Bexhill centre met with controversy when it opened in 1991, after a public inquiry, with neighbours fearing a crime wave of burglary, mugging and drug dealing.

It has been labelled a 'bail hostel' and the residents' association has accused Phoenix House of being a "dumping ground for national criminals."

But in 1994 residents of the rehabilitation centre hit back, claiming they were the victims of a hate campaign.

In August 1998, the Observer toured Phoenix House when it held an open day for the public as part of its birthday celebrations.

At the time, several next door neighbours spoke about their positive support for the project.

But there have remained calls for the centre to be shut down.

Currently, Phoenix House has accommodation for 29 clients with single and shared sleeping arrangements. A spokesman said the centre is full most of the time.

The service is open to men and women aged over 18 and provides a six month rehabilitation programme, followed by a three month resettlement programme. Residents are required to go through detox programme before being allowed to start their rehabilitation.

Moussain Boujetiff, was serving a drugs treatment and testing order at Phoenix House, a form of community sentence to address the problem of drug dependency, which is supported by regular testing.