On 11 June 2014, Peter Metcalf was sentenced to 18 months'imprisonment following conviction after trial of 15 offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. As far as I am aware that is the longest sentence handed out under this legislation (the maximum is 2 years' imprisonment). So why exactly was the sentence so long? This was a case in which there had not been a fire and nobody had been injured. Here are my thoughts: The premises run by Mr Metcalf was the Kimberley Hotel on Blackpool Promenade, quite a large hotel and formerly a prestigious venue for guests and other functions. When contacted by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service in early March 2013, Mr Metcalf was uncooperative. He even threatened to sue the fire service if they gained access to his property.
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