Banbury Chinese takeaway owner gets suspended sentence after breaking fire safety rules

Fire safety inspecting officers from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service found that the owner of Mr Rice in Banbury, Lili Pan, had failed to ensure there was an adequate risk assessment of fire and sufficient working fire alarms.

It comes after the takeaway was prosecuted for a mouse infestation and a series of serious food hygiene offences.

She also failed to ensure there were sufficient protected escape routes and fire exits available in case of a fire.

The takeaway restaurant was operating on the ground floor but had several bedrooms above the premises.

A fire safety audit was conducted and inspectors found that the building was so dangerous that they were left with no option but to prohibit the use of the premises for sleeping until safety measures were improved.

As a consequence the Fire Authority ordered the immediate removal of tenants on safety grounds by use of a Prohibition Notice so that it could not be used for sleeping or resting.

An investigation resulted in Mr Rice Ltd and Ms Pan appearing in court last week where the company and Ms Pan were sentenced to four months in custody for each of the 20 counts (to run concurrently) suspended for 12 months, and fined £800 with costs of £400.

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Station manager Chris Wilson who attended the hearing said: "The issuing of a prohibition notice restricts the use of any premises providing accommodation that does not meet the accepted standards of fire safety.

"Responsible persons (business owners or employers) have a duty of care to ensure the accommodation they provide is safe and suitable. We will advise and give support to any business and are always willing to help make sure they comply with fire safety legislation.

"The public should continue to be reassured that legal action will be used when necessary, where any serious breaches of fire safety regulations are identified."