The former joint proprietor of a restaurant which also included sleeping accommodation for staff has been fined £8,600 and ordered to pay £4,837 in costs for 12 fire safety breaches.

Patipat Kansikam of the Red Lion (Pad Thai) restaurant in Wokingham pleaded guilty last month to the offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, but the case was adjourned to 6 April for sentencing.

The offences included disabling smoke detectors by covering them with clingfilm, inadequate fire protection of escape routes, obstruction of escape routes, an inadequate fire alarm system, an inadequate fire risk assessment and inadequate fire evacuation training of staff.

David Walden, technical fire safety legal support manager at Royal Berkshire Fire Authority said that some businesses continued to treat compliance with fire safety legislation as an option.

“This financial penalty shows that the courts do not agree. This was a sustained and blatant refusal to meet statutory requirements to ensure the premises was provided with adequate fire safety measures. Staff and customers are entitled to feel safe when working at or visiting a restaurant or any other business.”