Leicestershire builder fined £5000 for fire safety breaches
A Leicestershire builder has been fined over £5,000 after being found guilty of fire safety regulations.
Craig Derrick from Hinckley, admitted breaching a prohibition notice issued to him by Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service after they carried out an inspection on Lillie House, in Conduit Street, Leicester, in October 2010.
He was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £2,500 in costs. Mr Derrick was released on unconditional bail to appear for sentencing at Leicester Crown Court on 12th July.
The building is being developed by Launch Padz Developments and is being converted into 75 single and communal student flats. It had been rejected as unsafe by fire service inspectors, who issued a notice preventing anyone living there until the problems were corrected.
Hazel Padmore, from the fire service, said that despite the notice, students had been allowed to move into the property. She said: “There was a backlog of students waiting for accommodation. They were let in intentionally with clear assurances that there was nothing wrong with the building.”
Mr Derrick said that he was not present when the prohibition notice was issued and was not certain what it meant.
Mr Derrick said: “The job was done to satisfaction when it was completed. I am on the spot – building is very slack.”