Mr Thuraisamy Ravichandran (Director and Company Secretary) and Mrs Radha  Ravichandran (Director) of Care Pro (Southeast) Limited pleaded guilty to all 12 offences at Brighton Magistrates Court in April 2024, sentencing was deferred to the District Magistrates Judge and held at Brighton Magistrates Court at 10:00 hours on Tuesday 9^th July 2024.

On 31 October 2022 East Sussex Fire and Rescue Fire Safety Inspecting officers visited Park Apartments, 14 Egerton Road, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex and identified the following 4 x Article 32(1)(a) Offences (under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005).

• Failed to discharge their duties under Article 8 - Duty to take general fire precautions.
• Failed to discharge their duties under Article 9 - Risk assessment.
• Failed to discharge their duties under Article 13 – Fire-fighting and fire detection.
• Failed to discharge their duties under Article 17 – Maintenance.

On 31 October 2022 East Sussex Fire and Rescue Fire Safety Inspecting officers visited Eden Lodge, 16 Egerton Road, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex and identified the following 2 x Article 32(1)(a) Offences.

• Failed to discharge their duties under Article 8 - Duty to take general fire precautions.
• Failed to discharge their duties under Article 13 - Fire-fighting and fire detection.

On 2 November 2022 East Sussex Fire and Rescue Fire Safety Inspecting officers visited Park View, 25 Egerton Road, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex and identified the 3 x Article 32(1)(a) Offences.

• Failed to discharge their duties under Article 8 - Duty to take general fire precautions
• Failed to discharge their duties under Article 9 - Risk assessment
• Failed to discharge their duties under Article 13 - Fire-fighting and fire detection

On 3 November 2022 East Sussex Fire and Rescue Fire Safety Inspecting officers visited Beau Lodge, 7 Jameson Road, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex and identified the following 3 x Article 32(1)(a) Offences.

• Failed to discharge their duties under Article 8 - Duty to take general fire precautions.
• Failed to discharge their duties under Article 9 - Risk assessment.
• Failed to discharge their duties under Article 13 - Fire-fighting and fire detection.

In summary, District Judge Szagun, when considering the prosecution sentencing guidelines, upheld culpability to be high and the level of harm to be medium. In her judgement, the Judge explained that the number of vulnerable residents placed at risk due to the defective fire doors and lack of detection and alarms, raised the level of harm a higher level. The Judge added that the owners should have taken the time to understand published regulations and guidance when providing this type of service.

The defendants were fined £27,500, per offence, for four of the offences, with guilty charges upheld for the remaining offences but no separate penalty awarded. This resulted in a £110,000 fine, a £2000 victim surcharge and £12,455 for times and costs.

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