Ilfracombe fire landlord Joseph Draper fined £115K
A north Devon landlord has been fined £115,000 after a massive fire ripped through one of his properties.
Dozens of people were evacuated from their homes in the fire at Hillsborough Terrace in llfracombe in February 2008.
Joseph Draper, 66, of Old Coast Road, in Berrynarbour, admitted four charges involving not having enough fire precautions on doors in some bedrooms.
Exeter Crown Court heard that the terraced house with seven flats on four floors was rented out by Draper.
The prosecution said some residents had to escape across the roof to adjacent properties because of the intensity of the blaze.
No-one was hurt in the fire, which was thought to have been started by accident.
Draper was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £23,000.