A business owner has been fined £80,000 and ordered to pay Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service over £50,000 in costs after pleading guilty to serious breaches of fire safety legislation. The business owner pleaded guilty to eight counts of breaching the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO). The judge, Elgin Edwards, passed the following sentences in respect of the offences:
- £30,000 – lack of suitable and sufficient risk assessment.
- £20,000 – Failure to take suitable and sufficient preventative and protective measures.
- £30,000 – All other offences sentenced at the same level including lack of suitable fire alarm and unsuitable means of escape.
In addition, full costs of approximately £50,300 were ordered to be paid to Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.