Norwich Landlord jailed after horrific fire

A woman has suffered 80% burns covering most of her body after a fire broke out in her bedsit on 14th April 2009.  Ms Skalli was not able to escape from the fire because her windows would only open 4 inches and the only other exit was blocked by thick smoke. Tenants from neighbouring bedsits were rescued by fire fighters or had to climb down drainpipes to escape the burning building.

Doctors thought it was unlikely that Ms Skalli would survive, and John Claxton from the HSE said “This is the most distressing case I have worked on during my 31 years as an HSE inspector”.

Mr Billings, landlord of a number of adjoining bedsits had failed to provide working fire alarms or sufficient escape routes. He had also neglected to have the gas appliances in the properties serviced and inspected.

After a joint prosecution by Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service and the Health and Safety Executive, the Norwich landlord pleaded guilty to a string of serious health and safety, fire safety and gas safety offences.

Mr Billings was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court and will now serve two and a half years in prison.