A ‘small army’ of police surrounded and shut down a crime boss’s illegal home and scrapyard this week as his wife sat by in despair in a move she says will force her to ‘live in a tent’.
Underworld figure Tommy ‘Hotdog’ Smith was jailed in 2019 for his role in a nationwide stolen goods and money laundering racket following a covert police operation.
While he remains behind bars, Mr Smith’s wife Mary was living in a detached eight-bedroom house built on a scrapyard they own in Great Harwood, East Lancashire.
But on Monday morning around a dozen police vehicles and 20 uniformed cops descended upon the site on Meadow Street and locked it off, ending years of misery for fed up locals.
The vast scrapyard to the back of the house had been at the centre of a growing row following repeated instances of antisocial behaviour, criminal activity and countless fires, prompting fury among nearby residents.
Police said ‘illegal activity’ has been taking place at the sprawling yard, which is also home to a collection of static caravans and stables.
One fire linked to the site burned for days and took firefighters 240 hours to put out.
One local mum compared the police presence to a ‘small army’ and said: ‘We all know who Tommy is. There has been all sorts going on down there for years, with lots of fires. Let’s just say he is a bit of a character.’
After a judge granted a closure order on the site, mother-of-four Mrs Smith complained that the order would effectively leave her and her family homeless.
Crime boss Tommy ‘Hotdog’ Smith was jailed in 2019 for his role in a nationwide stolen goods and money laundering racket following a covert police operation. Pictured: ‘Hotdog’ Smith with wife Mary
Police rounded up and shut down the house and illegal scrapyard on Monday following a court order
Pictured: Mrs Smith sat outside the property on a pavement. She had argued in court that the move would leave her homeless but lost the appeal
Mrs Smith and her family had been living in an eight-bedroom house they had built on the site after obtaining planning permission in 2010
Her legal team argued that members of the Smith family should be allowed to live at the house, and that the fires were caused by tenants, according to Lancs Live.
The 48-year-old told the court she and her 19-year-old daughter Indiana had purchased a ‘two-man tent’ and ‘that is all’, to which the judge asked: ‘You have a £1.4million turnover and you are going to live in a tent?’
Mrs Smith refuted this, telling Judge Guy Mathieson: ‘I don’t know what you are talking about, I don’t own any business. Sir, I think you have got it wrong.
‘My husband has been in jail for the past seven years, I haven’t had any business for at least six years.’ She argued she has even had to begin claiming benefits, however had not provided any paperwork to support this claim.
Mrs Smith’s appeal against the order was rejected during the hearing at Preston Crown Court.
On Monday, when MailOnline visited the site, the mum was seen wearing a tracksuit, crouched on a kerb outside her home spending much of the time on her phone.
When approached by MailOnline she said: ‘Some members of the press have violated our personal information. I have no further comment to make.’
Earlier in the day a burly man in a tracksuit, who was seen shadow boxing with pals, said to the Mail: ‘Mary is not very happy which is no surprise. The newspapers will get nothing from me so why don’t you just f*** off.’
Officers boarded up the front door to the large detached house, which featured two Roman style stone lions at the entrance.
The court order granted by Judge Mathieson prohibits anyone from entering or remaining on the Meadow Street site for three months from July 4 at the risk of arrest, imprisonment and or a fine.
Around a dozen police vehicles and 20 uniformed cops descended upon the site in the early hours of Monday morning
‘Hotdog’ Smith pictured with wife Mary (right) and 19-year-old daughter Indiana (left). Mrs Smith says herself and Indiana have bought a ‘two-man tent’ they will be forced to live in due to the eviction
An aerial view of the house and the scrapyard. Families had also been living in caravans on the scrapyard and were evicted
Stables were sat by the side of the property after being moved off the site
A notice was put up outside the property which informed that no one could enter or remain on the Meadow Street site for three months from July 4
The notice reads: ‘The owner/occupier will therefore have to find alternative accommodation.’
A local councillor who asked not to be named said to the Mail: ‘The closure order was the culmination of a long running saga at the scrap yard.
‘There have been numerous fires and other issues over recent years. This is now a multi-agency matter involving the police, council, RSPCA and other bodies.
‘Unfortunately this appears to be a criminal operation and there is a degree of fear and intimidation around these people.
Individuals brave enough to have spoken out have been targeted in the past. Although he is in prison there are still some dangerous people involved.’
The couple bought the site on Meadow Street for around £8,000 in 1996. A planning application to build a house on the site was approved in 2010.
Smith was jailed for five years in 2017 after police seized a sawn-off shotgun while executing a warrant at his home.
He was jailed for six and a half years in 2019 following a complex police operation into stolen goods and money laundering.
Preston Crown Court heard how some of the stolen items were tagged under the account name ‘Hot Dog Tom’.
Mary Smith was jailed for 15 months as part of the same prosecution. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to handle stolen goods and money laundering.
Detective Inspector Vinnie De Curtis, of Lancashire Police, said officers ‘unearthed a widespread and deliberate conspiracy to steal machinery, vehicles and stock amounting to thousands of pounds’ in 2017 linked to Tommy Smith and his associates.
Mrs Smith was also previously jailed for 15 months as part of the same prosecution as her husband. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to handle stolen goods and money laundering
The site had become a growing problem in the local area, with nearby residents complaining of anti-social behaviour and fires started by the illegal burning of waste
Pictured: Mrs Smith. The wife of the crime boss has four children and four grandchildren
‘The audacity of those involved in stealing these items was staggering, with the goods often taken from within secure compounds before being sold on, or taken to auction,’ he said.
The Mail approached Lancashire Police for a comment on the activity which took place on Monday.
A spokesperson said: ‘We have served a closure order at an illegal waste site in Great Harwood.
‘The order prevents anybody entering or remaining on land at The Oaks on Meadow Street for the next three months.
‘Our officers went onto the site yesterday (7th July) with partners to serve the order and ensure it was fully complied with. There were no incidents of any note.
‘The closure order was sought after numerous concerns were raised about illegal activity on the site, with significant impact being felt by the local community due to the illegal burning of waste.
‘By working closely with partners, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, Hyndburn Borough Council and the Environment Agency, we were able to take legal action.’
The order, under Section 80 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, was initially granted at Lancaster Magistrates’ Court on 18th February.
However, it was postponed after the respondent was granted leave to appeal. That appeal was heard by a Judge at Preston Crown Court on Friday and was refused.
ACC Stasia Osiowy, of Lancashire Police said: ‘I welcome the granting of this closure order which is the right outcome for a community which has been affected for a long period of time by illegal activity from a set of individuals who believe the law doesn’t apply to them.
‘I fully understand the frustration felt by local residents and businesses who were impacted by illegal activity sometimes on a daily basis.
‘We have been working hard with our partners behind the scenes to bring a resolution to this issue, however we have not always been able to talk about it publicly.
‘I hope the serving of this closure order today and our presence at the site yesterday reassures the public that where we identify criminal behaviour of any kind we will work with our partners to bring it to an end.
A local councillor, who asked not to be named, told MailOnline the closure was ‘the culmination of a long running saga at the scrap yard’
‘The action is part of Op Centurion, which is county-wide crackdown on anti-social behaviour, led by Lancashire Constabulary and backed by the Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw, delivering his Fighting Crime Plan priority of getting tough on anti-social behaviour, with the support of our partners.’
Mr Grunshaw said: ‘The closure of this site marks a significant and long overdue step forward for the local community.
‘Residents have endured persistent anti-social behaviour, criminality, and disruption linked to this location and I commend the coordinated efforts of Lancashire Constabulary and our partners in taking decisive action.
‘This outcome demonstrates the power of partnership and the importance of listening to residents’ concerns, who have campaigned tirelessly for action.
‘Tackling anti-social behaviour is a key priority in my Police and Crime Plan, and Operation Centurion is delivering real results by holding offenders to account and restoring confidence in our communities.
‘I want to thank everyone involved in bringing this case to court and securing this outcome.
‘It sends a clear message that we will not tolerate those who flout the law and put public safety at risk.’
