Last month baliffs armed with an angle grinder cut their way in to the former Barclays Bank after squatters calling themselves CR7 Guardians took up occupation for weeks.

Amazingly the mastermind behind the audacious occupation revealed he had got in because the door was unlocked and a set of keys had been left inside!

Hours after spotting the security blunder Daniel Ferron decided not to miss the opportunity to hole up in the bank. The occupation finally came to an end when he was awoken by sparks flying off the grinder as enforcement officers tried to enter through a reinforced rear door.

However, he  was able to let them in with the key. He revealed to The Chronicle how he was summonsed to court and represented himself and that the once the judge heard that he had entered the premises with a key he wasn’t penalised and walked free without  fine or further punishment.

He said:  “The door was open for three or four hours before I put head my through and said ‘hello’… I went inside and  they l had left the keys in there,  the  keys to the safe and the combination… everything. It was really irresponsible.”

He told the Chronicle how he was summonsed to court and represented himself and that the once the judge heard that he had entered the premises with a key he wasn’t penalised and walked free without  fine or further punishment.

He said:  “The door was open for three or four hours before I put head my through and said ‘hello’… I went inside and  they l had left the keys in there,  the  keys to the safe and the combination… everything. It was really irresponsible.”

Barclays closed  the bank in December 2017 and was being marketed for rent at £42,500 a year.

A spokesman for CRBE  who have been advertising the premises say they are  currently not the leasing agent for the property. 

Last month Parthenon Fashions closed its doors after 50 years on the forecourt. A year on the former Wetherspoon’s pub still remains empty awaiting consent for change of use which is restricting the property being let. There had been interest from gym chains with CPFC owner Steve Parish Puregym the front runner.

Because of the properties complex arrangements any change of use has to get consent from the Ambassador House leaseholders: Redwing Property and Lancashire based Acebench, owned by Yousuf Bhailok along with permission from the freeholder Network Rail. Consent is still be awaited from Acebench and the rail company.

Chartered accountant Harry Kerai, who purchased the 72 year lease on the pub in 2012 with his brother as a pension investment is having to foot the legal bill to pursue a consent decision in court.

He has done everything by the book including paying business rates and securing the premises.