David Force, a property management agent and retired estate agent, pleaded guilty to three charges of breaches of fire safety at Newton Abbot Magistrates Court on Monday 15 August.

He was taken to court by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

The charges related to his property at 9 Queen Street, the ground floor of which is used for commercial purposes and the first floor for a privately let flat.

The prosecution came after an investigation by the fire service.

Business safety officers reportedly raised concerns with Mr Force in 2021 about the lack of suitable means of escape in case of fire, structural failures, and the absence of a fire risk assessment.

The officers decided that the premises were dangerous to the person who lived in the flat and so they could not stay there anymore with immediate effect.

The service explained that if a fire were to occur on the ground floor, the person in the flat above, who was also considered vulnerable as they were elderly with additional disabilities, would not be able to make their escape safely.

The fire service decided to prosecute Mr Force as it determined that the premises in 2021 were "so far below an acceptable standard that they had put people at risk of death or serious injury in the event of a fire occurring".

Its investigation also found that he had known that the premises did not have adequate means of escape in case of fire back in 2009, but had never made an application for the works and continued to take rent despite knowing the flat was unsafe to occupy.

After the prosecution, Glen Wells, Business Safety Legal Support Officer said: "Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service take the safety of people who work, live and visit Devon and Somerset very seriously.

"Fire safety legislation is there for a reason, to ensure that people are safe in buildings should a fire occur and can safely evacuate should they need to do so.

"Where building owners provide accommodation, they must do so with all the required and appropriate fire safety measures in place.

"Where persons responsible for premises know that fire safety measures are poor and dangerous, or they knowingly allow poor fire safety standards, putting profits before safety, they will be held to account".

Mr Force pleaded guilty to all three charges from the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO).

He was ordered to pay the full prosecution costs of £8659.00 and a victim's surcharge of £190. The fines were the maximum allowed under the sentencing rules.