A Rodbourne flat has been closed by order of a district judge – after concerns that its tenant was being exploited by County Line drug dealers.

The closure order bans anyone except those named on the order and 999 crews from entering the flat.

The flat’s occupant, David Watkins-Rudman, 33, was spared jail in March. He had admitted being concerned in the supply of class A drugs having been filmed together with London man Shaquille McAdam dealing in an alleyway near the Gorse Hill branch of Lidl in 2017.

They were working for the Alex drugs line, overseen by Andre Hewitt and Shane Drew, who have links to notorious east London gang the London Fields Boys. 

Welcoming the closure order, Sgt Stefan Telford of Swindon Police said: “Due to concerns that the occupants were being exploited by these drugs networks, we applied for a closure order at the address to prevent these gangs from further exploiting the occupants’ vulnerabilities.

“It is hoped that this order will provide protection to the occupants moving forward, as well as the other residents in the block of flats and those living nearby.

“Drugs can blight a community and these closure orders can be really effective in helping those involved in turning their lives around.”

The partial closure order will last for three months. It was granted by District Judge Tim Pattinson at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court on Thursday morning.