A RESTAURANT manager has been spared jail after he flouted fire safety rules, putting lives at risk at his eatery.

In an inspection fire safety officers discovered that staff members may have been sleeping on site at the Jool Indian restaurant, Parson's Street, Banbury.

Fire safety equipment was also found to be defective and in one instance a bed was blocking an escape route.

It was also discovered that there was no fire risk assessment and fire alarms could not be heard in some areas.

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Mohammed Khan had already admitted five counts of failing to comply with requirements relating to fire safety rules.

The 32-year-old of Church Street, London, appeared for sentencing at Oxford Crown Court today.

Kristiina Reed, prosecuting, said, fire safety officers went to the restaurant in November 2018 following reports that staff were sleeping on the premises.

During that investigation they found a number of bedrooms with personal belongings inside, including ashtrays and cigarettes.

An exit to one of the rooms was blocked by a bed and on testing a fire alarm officers could not hear it from the rooms.

Khan was unable to provide a fire risk assessment and some fire safety equipment was inadequate - with one fire door fitted so poorly there was a 'significant gap between the door frame.'

In mitigation, Gerwyn Wise said that by the time inspectors revisited the premises Khan had already implemented the necessary improvements at a cost of £3,000.

Sentencing, Judge Maria Lamb said: "The failure to observe the requirements placed upon you risks catastrophe.

"Because death by fire and smoke inhalation is an obvious consequence if fire had broken out."

He was handed a six-month jail term, suspended for two years, and will pay £2,400 costs and a victim surcharge.