An hotelier was charged with four breaches of the Fire Safety Order. These included bedrooms without means of escape, inadequate emergency lighting / artificial lighting, incorrect testing of the fife alarm system and a prohibition notice being issued to stop the second floor being used.

However he continued to ignore recommendations and fire safety officers believed that the risks would ultimately lead to fire deaths in the hotel.

He was fined a total of £145,000 for the offences and ordered to pay £49,488 to Suffolk Fire & Rescue and £8,039 for legal costs he had claimed and was not entitled to.