The owner of a club in the Plymouth suburb of Plympton has been handed a hefty fine after he admitted breaching fire safety regulations.
John Malcolm Vaughan Morgan, the owner of the Fetish Club in Lister Close, was prosecuted after officers from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service inspected his property and finding that an official notice had not been adhered to. The club had been issued with a Prohibition Notice which restricted the way the premises was used until all fire safety measures, including those usually included in fire safety awareness training courses, were adhered to.
The fire service, in conjunction with the local police, made the decision to prosecute after finding that Mr Morgan had ignored the notice. In Plymouth Magistrates Court, he pleaded guilty to breaching the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and was fined £300, as well as being ordered to pay £1,000.
Commenting on the case was Glen Wells, station manager for the local fire service, who said:
“We are pleased with the outcome of this case as by ignoring the Prohibition Notice on Unit 18, and continuing to allow the building to be occupied, Mr Morgan showed disregard for the safety of those people using his club, placing them at real risk should a fire have occurred.”