Two men prosecuted for breaching fire safety in West Sussex
The cases heard at Crawley Magistrates Court followed a fire in Littlehampton and a breach in Horsham.
Landlords and business owners are being reminded of their legal obligations to maintain fire safety standards following two successful prosecutions.
In one case heard at Crawley Magistrates Court, a tenant had to be rescued from a blaze in Littlehampton in June 2019, after their landlord failed to ensure there was a working fire alarm system in the property.
Alan Poate, 81, of Maxwell Road, Arundel, pleaded guilty to seven charges of breaching the Fire Safety Order 2005.
On Thursday he was sentenced and fined £507, along with a victim surcharge of £51 and ordered to pay prosecutions costs of £1923.
In the second case heard at Crawley Magistrates Court on Thursday, Feng Jiang Chui, 53, of Spencer Road, Horsham, pleaded guilty to seven breaches of the Fire Regulation Order 2005 relating to a take-away business he operated.
A prohibition notice was served preventing use of the premises until the breaches were rectified.
Chui was fined £1,080, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £108 and prosecution costs of £1801.
Andy Parsons, WSFRS's Fire Safety Enforcement Manager, said:
"We are fully committed to keeping the communities of West Sussex safe. Inadequate fire safety measures in properties, be that businesses or HMOs are simply not acceptable. We expect landlords to put the safety of their tenants first.
"We will continue to work towards ensuring that both businesses and landlords keep their properties in good condition and adhere to fire safety regulations.
"Evidence of failing the public and residents' safety in this way will lead to prosecutions."