Restaurant workers' lives were put at risk for five years by a rogue manager's failure to take fire precautions in a house in multiple occupation, a court heard.

Abdul Bashir, 53, was fined and ordered to pay costs totalling more than �20,000 by Norwich magistrates yesterday.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to four charges of failing to comply with regulations in respect of management of housing in multiple occupation. Three other similar charges were withdrawn.

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of �5000, and Bashir would have been fined the maximum amount of �20000, but for a 10pc reduction for his guilty plea, which made it �18000. He was also ordered to pay costs of �2214.24.

The court heard that Bashir was the license holder or manager at the four-storey property in Prince of Wales Road from 2006 to 2011 and therefore responsible for compliance with the housing rules.

In the daytime he worked as a waiter at the ground floor Prince of India restaurant, but at night he lived at Heath Crescent, Hellesdon with his wife and two children.

The upstairs rooms at the Prince of Wales Road building were occupied by staff at the restaurant, and it was licensed to accommodate five people.

Norwich City Council prosecuted Bashir after an inspection was carried out in February, and it was found that he had breached several of regulations.

These included failing to ensure the means of escape in case of fire were clear, making sure fire doors could close properly, keeping fire alarms in working order, and storing flammable items in the kitchen and common room.

Luke Parker, for Norwich City Council, said: 'These are serious breaches primarily relating to fire safety, which the council considers unacceptable.

'The prosecution was brought because he has a history of failing to maintain living conditions in a safe and proper manner at this property. He has been warned about conditions before but failed to improve and maintain the means of escape in case of fire.

'The aggravating factors are the number of occupants at risk from fire and living in poor conditions, and the length of time occupants were exposed to this risk.

'The mitigating features are that Bashir is in poor health and has struggled in his role as housing in multiple occupation manager, and that the premises manager has now taken on this function.'

Sentencing Bashir, chairman of the bench Valerie Jenkins said: 'What made this offence more serious is that you failed to respond to previous warnings. During that time a number of the occupants had expressed their concerns about the conditions. And the length of time, five years, that these occupants' health and lives were put at risk.'

For Bashir, Dave Foulkes said his client did not own the building in Prince of Wales Road and had only been made the licence holder for five years in 2006.

He added: 'The council did not bring formal proceedings before this year, even though it had the power to do so, but chose not to.

'In May the council issued a list of requirements needed at the building to bring it up to the required standard and that was done. The restaurant is also not doing particularly well in the current economic climate.'

The court heard that Bashir and his wife owned a property in Denton Road, Sprowston, which they received rent on, and also owned a property in Magdalen Road, north city, which they paid �195,000 for earlier this year.

Earlier, Mr Parker had outlined some of the breaches committed in more detail. He said a wheelie bin blocked the exit on the ground floor, DIY and sports items were stored under the stairs on the first floor and the cupboard on the second floor lobby was not shut.

He also said that fire doors had a wedge in the hinge, could not close fully, had no handle or latch, had a missing self closer arm and missing cold smoke seals, did not self close, pipework was a trip hazard and there was a springing step.

Bashir had also failed to ensure fire alarms were maintained in good working order, namely the heat detector in the shared kitchen was not working and had no power supply, and that parts of the first floor were not clear of obstruction, namely the kitchen and common room were used for storing mattresses, cardboard and other flammable items and a commercial chest freezer.

Have you got a housing story for the Evening News? Call reporter David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk.