Company director prosecuted for breaching fire safety regulations

Coates was the director of two companies involved in the purchase and renovation of Columbia House in Romany Road, Worthing. The former office building was being converted into a seven-storey high-rise block of flats when Coates allowed the premises to be occupied before the escape routes (the corridor and stairs) were signed off as being fire safety compliant.

At a hearing back in January, Coates pleaded guilty to five charges under the Fire Safety Order for the offences committed in 2022.

The court heard that a fire safety inspecting officer who was working on the Building Regulations consultation for this premises noticed lots of vehicles in the residents’ car park when passing by. Upon investigation, it became apparent that residents had wrongly been allowed to move into the properties.

This negligence endangered approximately 30 residents. The breaches undermined the building’s fire safety strategy. If a fire were to have occurred, anyone living in or visiting the flats would have been placed at an increased risk of potential death or serious injury.

Outcome of the case

On 14 March, the severity of the offences was acknowledged by the court when Coates was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, along with a requirement to undertake 150 hours of unpaid community work and fined £1,000.

Area manager Dave Bray, head of fire safety for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are extremely pleased with the outcome of this case and believe it serves as a strong reminder to all those responsible for the design, construction, occupation and management of premises in West Sussex, to which the Fire Safety Order applies, that the duties placed upon them by this legislation are taken seriously.”

Bray added: “Duty holders are reminded that the Fire Safety Order is in place to protect life in the event of a fire. As such, the highest sanctions possible will be sought where these failings endanger the lives of residents and visitors to West Sussex.”