TENANT NEEDED 13 OPERATIONS AFTER FLAT BLAZE
Landlord in court after failing to provide even basic measures to make sure building was fire-safe
LANDLORD Gorden Lee has been prosecuted after a fire tore through his property leaving one man with serious injuries.
The 66-year-old owns a property in Oxford Street, Penkhull, which was recently used as a recording studio and as residential flats.
But he failed to ensure the building was fire-safe as he did not carry out a fire risk assessment and there were no working fire alarms or fire doors.
And when a fire was started accidentally by an unattended lit candle it spread through the building.
The defendant and three other tenants were able to escape but one man who was living with one of the tenants suffered serious burns and has undergone 13 operations.
Now Lee has been handed a 12-month community order with 160 hours unpaid work at Stoke-on-trent Crown Court.
Prosecutor Mark Jackson said firefighters were called to the property in Oxford Street, Penkhull, at 5.45am on May 17, 2020.
At the time number 54 was being used as a recording studio but was not open because of the pandemic and 54a was a flat.
Mr Jackson said: “It started in the flat by a candle. Four appliances attended. Firefighters rescued two people from the first floor using ladders. Four casualties suffered from smoke inhalation. One suffered from burns and has had 13 operations to date.
“The tenant who lived with the man who suffered the burns woke at 5am. She could see smoke billowing. She woke her partner.
“She could see the fire was spreading. She shouted to the defendant’s room. She had to shout for him to call the fire brigade.
“She managed to escape after neighbours broke down the door.
“There were no smoke alarms and the windows did not open. They used a camping stove and an induction hub to cook.
“The defendant had the gas turned off to reduce his carbon footprint. There was no boiler and no hot water.”
Mr Jackson said: “Fire investigators found there was no fire detection system. There was no way of warning the occupants, in particular those sleeping. The lack of detection led to the fire. There was no fire separation, no detection, no fire doors, the smoke just passed through the whole of the premises.”
The defendant said said he made sure there were fire extinguishers in each tenant’s room. But he accepted there was no fire risk assessment and no smoke detectors in the main corridor.
Mr Jackson added: “The defendant chose to use 54 as sleeping accommodation. He was doing so for profit.
“He failed to provide even the most basic measures. He risked his own safety, and his mum’s safety when she stayed. He did not have regard for anyone.”
Lee, of Oxford Street, Penkhull, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to failing to take general fire precautions.
Mark Balysz, mitigating, said: “He is a man who lives in his own small world. He has done his best to provide for others and be a good citizen. He had no idea about his duties and is sorry for his ignorance.”
Judge David Fletcher said the offence carries a maximum of two years in prison.
He said: “What I am not doing is sentencing you as a result of the injuries. You are not charged with arson. This is a case which relates to the inadequacies of the premises of which you are the owner.
“The provisions for fire safety in both parts of the premises were woefully inadequate.”
The judge ordered Lee to pay £17,640 costs.