A FOWEY restaurateur has been prosecuted for endangering the lives of his employees by failing to meet fire regulations.

Cornwall Council prosecuted Martin Billingsley over the staff accommodation he provided above his prominent quayside restaurants Waterfront and Food For Thought.

He was fined £2,000 at Liskeard Magistrates' Court for not providing adequate fire precaution facilities and given a conditional discharge for below-standard amenities for the number of people living there. He also paid £1,250 in costs to Cornwall Council. Ted Simpson, assistant chief fire officer for Cornwall Fire and Rescue said: "Owners who fail to meet the conditions are putting themselves, their employees and members of the public at risk. Safety is our business."

Stuart Benson, public health and protection manager at Cornwall Council said this case was an example of landlords who flout the law by failing to ensure their properties conformed to legal requirements.

"These people can rest assured that in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of tenants in private rented accommodation, the public health and protection service will make every effort to bring them to book."

Billingsley, who has room to accommodate 15 people said he currently had five staff living there.

"The safety of my staff is at the forefront of my mind. I had a list of requirements to meet but I didn't have enough time to meet all of them. There is no easy answer. I accept it was my responsibility as landlord to meet these requirements."

Billingsley's chartered surveyor David Hill said the problems concerned fire doors and partitioning between rooms and corridors, and all work had now been completed.