THE owner of a fire-struck Crewe fast food takeaway was told his neglect of safety laws meant someone could have died at his Victoria Street premises.

Abdul Rajab admitted he had breached a raft of fire safety regulations, both on his behalf and that of his company Shark Crewe Limited, when he appeared before Chester Magistrates' Court.

The businessman didn't have any fire detectors or alarms at the premises, which were the subject of a Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service investigation after the fire on Saturday, March 23 in 2019.

The flames spread from the takeaway on the ground floor to first-floor living accommodation and District Judge Nick Sanders told Rajab his failure to comply with fire regulations had "put people at serious risk of death or harm".

Rajab, 33, of Lower Breck Road, Liverpool previously pleaded not guilty to seven fire regulation charges, while admitting three, at a previous hearing at South Cheshire Magistrates' Court.

He was due to stand trial, but re-entered guilty pleas on all charges at the Chester hearing.

The court was told that the owner of the property had confirmed that Rajab was responsible for the flat accommodation above his takeaway. It was said the defendant was helped to collect the rent owed by the property owner, but the lease was in his name.

The judge said that his powers of sentencing were not sufficient and directed the case be sent to Chester Crown Court on May 14.

He also sent the case against Shark Crewe Ltd to be dealt with at the same hearing, adding "the line between the company and Mr Rajab is somewhat blurred."

Rajab previously admitted 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 at the premises at 95-97 Victoria Street.

To that he has now pleaded 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 has also admitted failing to:

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

Guilty pleas have also be entered on behalf of Shark Crewe Ltd for 10 identical fire regulation breaches.