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“Profits before lives”: Man could face jail for ignoring fire regulations at hotel

By June 3, 2015May 16th, 2017Fire

Profit was put before lives at a hotel with no fire alarms and no escape route, a court heard today.

Stewart Woods, 56, was told he could face jail after admitting breaching a raft of fire safety laws at Sefton Magistrates’ Court.

Woods, who still lives at the Norland Hotel in Bath Street, Southport, ignored a prohibition notice from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service banning any rooms on the first or second floors being rented to guests.

Although not the owner of the Norland, the court heard Woods had access to all the room keys and was effectively running it after its previous owner Neil Whalley, 70, had a massive stroke.

Warren Spencer, prosecuting on behalf of the fire service, said: “It is an aggravating feature of this case that the defendant can’t plead ignorance to the risks.