A takeway restaurant owner has been fined for letting his employees sleep in the shop’s loft space, breaching fire safety rules.

Secim Gezegen, trading as Sanchos in High Street, Uckfield, has been convicted for breaches of fire safety legislation.

The owner of the kebab and pizza takeaway was given a prohibition notice by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service after it discovered people sleeping in his attic, which is only suitable for storage given its fire safety arrangements.

In March this year, Mr Gezegen was sent an “informal caution” by the fire service stating that if there were further breaches of fire safety legislation in the future, it would “seriously consider” prosecution.

However, in April inspectors found people using the loft as sleeping accommodation and decided to prosecute.

Prosecutors for East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said Mr Gezegen obstructed and manhandled an inspector during one visit.

Mr Gezegen was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay costs of £4,327.27 at Eastbourne Magistrates’ Court.

He pleaded guilty to the offence of failing to comply with a notice prohibiting his loft space from being used as sleeping quarters.

The fire service will be making regular checks in future.

Any further breaches will result in Mr Gezegen being sent to prison, he was told at court.

Richard Fowler, head of business safety for the fire service, said: “The fire service considers such matters as being among the most serious that it encounters.

“Dangerous conditions were identified and Mr Gezegen was instructed not to use the loft for sleeping.

“He blatantly ignored this instruction and placed his staff at risk by allowing them to sleep in the loft.

“The prison sentence handed down by the court reflects the serious nature of the offence.

“Owners of any premises where the fire service has served a formal legal notice are reminded of the importance of complying with the notice and of the potential consequences of not doing so.”

A Home Office spokesman said they were not investigating the loft occupation as part of any investigation into illegal immigration.