Man sentenced after Bewsey blaze could have 'proved fatal' (From Warrington Guardian)

Man sentenced after KW Golf and Sinbin Bar fire on Lovely Lane could have 'proved fatal'

11:55am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News

A BUSINESS owner has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work after two men were trapped in a blaze which destroyed KW Golf and the Cross Bar pub in Bewsey in 2011.

Leslie Brinksman, 49 of Walgrave Road, Newton-Le-Willows, Merseyside was sentenced by Warrington Magistrates Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to breaching fire safety law.

Flames broke out at the three story premises, which incorporated the Sinbin Bar, the Crossbar and a bed and breakfast operation run at the time by Brinksman on August 17, 2011 on Lovely Lane.

A bin fire pushed up against the rear of the property is thought to have started the fire which then spread and was made worse when it ruptured a 1000 litre diesel tank.

Deputy chief fire officer Mark Cashin said: "The firefighters who attended the incident identified early on that there were some potential fire safety issues with the premises.

"We welcome the sentence handed out by the court as this was a serious breach of fire safety that could have cost someone their life.

“Mr Brinksman had failed to carry out a fire safety risk assessment to ensure tenants and the buildings occupiers would be able to evacuate in the event of a fire – we are certain that this would have proved fatal if it had not been for the action taken by firefighters.”