A businessman was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for two years and ordered 100 hours of community service following breaches of      Fire Safety Legislation at his premises. He was also fined a total of £24,000 and had to pay £9,000 costs. Officers had inspected the three storey building and made recommendations which needed completion before the building could be used as an indoor car boot market. Following a complaint the fire officers visited again and found that the premises were being used but the works had not been completed.

A statutory notice was then served to prevent the premises being used until the work was finalised. He was eventually prosecuted when it became apparent that he had ignored the original advice and continued to trade without ensuring his premises were safe. Mark Huckerby, Head of Fire Protection at Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service said “….my officers had previously spend some time ensuring that the occupier was aware of his responsibilities and duties to ensure peoples safety and it is disappointing that he chose to place people at risk from fire.”