THE owner of a fast food takeaway in Crewe has admitted that he put his staff and other people at risk of death or serious injury by ignoring fire safety rules.

Abdul Rajab faces a trial over allegations he breached a series of fire safety laws at his business premises at 95-97 Victoria Street in Crewe, including failing to clear a main staircase of "combustible" items.

But the fast food shop owner also admitted he failed to provide fire detectors and alarms at the premises, which were the subject of a fire service investigation after a blaze broke out on Saturday, March 23 in 2019.

Rajab appeared before South Cheshire Magistrates' Court where he entered not guilty pleas to seven charges relating to the premises he rented for his fast food business. He pleaded guilty to three charges.

The court was told an investigation was launched two days after the fire which spread into living accommodation on the first floor.

Rajab, 33, of Lower Breck Road, Liverpool pleaded not guilty to failing to take general fire precautions to ensure the safety of employees, which placed one or more people at risk of death or serious injury, on or before March 25, 2019.

He also denied failing to maintain adequate fire separation between the ground floor and first floor at the premises; failing to keep clear at all times the emergency exits and routes to the exits in that combustibles were placed on the main staircase; failing to provide emergency routes and exits with adequate signage; failing to have a fire evacuation procedure for the premises; failing to ensure the premises and facilities were subject to suitable maintenance and in good repair; and failing to provide adequate fire safety training, all within the same dates.

Rajab pleaded guilty to failing to make a suitable fire risk assessment; failing to make arrangements for the planning, control monitoring and review of fire safety measures; and failing to provide adequate fire detectors and alarms on or before March 25, 2019.

Rajab's company Shark Crewe Limited faced the same charges and the defendant entered identical pleas on its behalf.

The court was told a backlog in cases could leave the defendant waiting for up to two years for a Crown Court trial date.

But Rajab agreed to have his trial heard before a district judge in the magistrates' courts and the case was adjourned until March 18.

• A man charged with possessing a stanley knife on Crewe Station will appear in front of South Cheshire magistrates later this month.

Magistrates heard that Zac Anthony Cotton, 23, had difficulties attending court on Tuesday (February 9) and therefore agreed to adjourn his case until February 23.

Cotton, of Stalbridge Road, Crewe faces a charge of possessing a bladed article on the station on January 22 this year.

He was arrested over the allegation while British Transport Police officers were conducting checks to see whether coronavirus regulations were being complied with by station-goers.