A company director and a manager have both avoided jail over a shop fire in Caerphilly town centre.
Farzana Safdar Ali and brother Waris Ali admitted a total 29 fire safety charges brought against them by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
On the morning of March 12, 2014, fire crews attended a major fire at the Phaze shop in Cardiff Road.
The two storey building was severely damaged by the fire and the main town centre road was closed for several hours.
At the height of the fire there were a total of seven fire appliances and more than 35 firefighters tackling the blaze.
Crews initially raised safety concerns after they noticed a fire escape door at the rear of the premises was screwed shut.
At Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court last month, Ms Farzana Ali, company director of Phaze Limited, pleaded guilty to 23 offences while Mr Waris Ali, store manager, pleaded guilty to six offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
However, magistrates felt their sentencing powers were inadequate in such a case and referred the matter to Newport Crown Court where the Alis appeared on April 29.
Ms Ali received a four-month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months and was ordered to pay £4,800 in costs and an £80 victim surcharge. Mr Ali also received a four-month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £2,400 in costs and an £80 victim surcharge. Additionally, Mr Ali was sentenced to 100 hours unpaid community work.
The court heard how workers in the shop were lucky to get out alive through the front.
So concerned were firefighters, a safety inspection was carried out immediately after the blaze was extinguished.
In light of their findings, two other shops in the South Wales area were also investigated.
Fire escapes were found to be blocked, jammed or locked, firefighting equipment lacking and a fire alarm not working.
The 29 charges brought against the pair were in relation to all three properties.
During the investigation Phaze Limited went into liquidation. However, as the company director and store manager, Ms Ali and Mr Ali remained liable and the fire service decided to prosecute both of them as individuals.
His Honour Judge Jonathan Furness QC said the fire safety breaches were serious and risked life.
He added: “Both defendants bear responsibility and there is high culpability because the failings were of long standing.”
Steve Rossiter, Head of Business Fire Safety for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “I am pleased with the outcome of the case as it was only a matter of luck that prevented a death at the Cardiff Road incident, and when faced with such failings in fire safety provisions we take the decision to prosecute very seriously. It’s the role of SWFRS business fire safety department to bring people to justice and this is exactly what we have done.”
Typical. Flout the law blatantly and get a slap on the wrist.
It makes you wonder what it takes to get put in jail these days. These shop owners put the lives of staff and the public at severe risk in a building right in the centre of town. I can only describe the sentences as pathetic.