Squatters occupying four houses on the Sweets Way estate will be evicted after possession orders were granted by a court.

During a hearing at Barnet County Court this morning, brought by the Ministry of Defence, District Judge Marc Marin approved the orders for numbers 70, 72, 74 and 76 Oakleigh Road North, Whetstone to be reclaimed.

The homes have been occupied over the past six months in protest against the redevelopment of the former Army estate, which saw tenants evicted in the spring.

Number 76 has been used as a ‘community centre’ and base by the campaign group Sweets Way Resist, which was represented in the court by Michael Cooper.

No one occupying any of the other properties attended the hearing.

District Judge Marin also approved High Court Sheriffs to carry out the evictions, instead of county court bailiffs, after a request by barrister Varun Zaiwalla, representing the MoD.

Mr Cooper told the court: “Although the buildings are residential, they are occupied as opposed to resided in. It is a political occupation that has been ongoing this entire year, and these properties have been the most recent ones occupied. The protest itself is one of families’ rights to homes, article eight in the Human Rights Act.

“I would like you to consider the human right issues that would potentially be breached.”

Mr Zaiwalla argued Mr Cooper had not raised a “seriously arguable” case on human rights grounds.

Summing up, District Judge Marin said: “He says by occupying the property, it allows the political campaign to continue. In reply, counsel for the Secretary of State says to bring any claim there has to be a seriously arguable point, and the one raised by Mr Cooper does not reach that threshold.

“Mr Cooper made his points in a measured way, but when all is said and done, Mr Cooper’s defence fails, and none of the defendants have any right to the property.

“Occupying someone else’s property, without their permission, in protest against the law passed by a democratically elected Parliament is clearly unacceptable and wrong.”

Arguing against the use of High Court Sheriffs to carry out the evictions, Mr Cooper said it could leave the families “tramautised”.

He said: “This is a building occupied by many occupants, families, children and vulnerable people. I genuinely fear for how things play out, should High Court enforcers come to evict a bunch of families.”

District Judge Marin replied: “I have no doubt any eviction would be carried out properly.”

Speaking after the hearing, campaigner Colin Bex branded the result “disgraceful.”