Landlord convicted of ‘life threatening’ fire safety breaches

28/09/2010

The landlord of a Berkshire pub which was described as "potentially life-threatening" has pleaded guilty to 13 offences under the Fire Safety Order.

Bhupinder jit Singh Mann of Slough was ordered to pay more than £13,000 in fines and costs as the former proprietor of the 2nd Stop pub in Stoke Road, Slough, which also included sleeping accommodation.

Officers from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service visited the pub in March last year, after receiving information from London Fire Brigade of similar offences at another pub managed by Mr. Mann. Mr. Mann was subsequently prosecuted for these breaches to which he also pleaded guilty at Isleworth crown court in February 2009.

At the time of the inspection of the 2nd Stop on 6 March 2009, fire safety officers found;

• Fire exit doors locked and bolted
• Fire escape routes obstructed
• Defective Fire Alarm System
• Fire risk assessment not reviewed since 2005
• Fire extinguishers not tested

The court was told that the contraventions presented a serious and life-threatening risk, not only to the staff who worked and slept there, but also to members of the public who visited the premises.

Mr. Mann, who no longer occupies or manages the pub, was fined £500 for each of the 13 charges under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, plus a £15 victims' surcharge. He was also ordered to pay costs of £7,124.

David Walden, RBFA fire safety legal support manager, said:

"We are very pleased that the courts have acknowledged the potentially life-threatening nature of this case. In summing up, the magistrates said that they had considered referring the case to the Crown Court for sentencing due to the serious nature of the breaches."