PEOPLE living in a “death trap” block of flats were put at risk by a faulty fire safety report, a court was told.

An inspection carried out by Charles Morgan of UK Fire Consulting Ltd failed to highlight several risks at Cranleigh House in Westwood Road, Southampton.

Fire safety defects included holes in the walls between flats and a lack of insulation, both of which could have helped a fire to spread.

Southampton Crown Court also heard that the building’s fire alarm control panel was capable of being tampered with.

But Morgan, 46, of Sherwood Avenue, Poole, often used the word “unseen” in his report instead of carrying out a more detailed examination.

He compiled the assessment in 2017, when all 24 flats were occupied.

Klentiana Mahmutaj, prosecuting on behalf of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said cavities were ignored and overlooked, creating a "huge source of potential risk".

She added: "It was a death trap which luckily did not materialise in this case.

“It was an incompetent fire risk assessment that was fundamentally flawed. It failed to provide a safe fire safety audit and protect the inhabitants.”

Morgan and his company had previously pleaded guilty to failing to carry out a “suitable and sufficient” risk assessment.

Lauren Sales, mitigating, said the defendant accepted he had put people at risk.

She added: “He received a small £170 fee for compiling the report. He should have asked for more money and completed a proper fire risk assessment.

“He made a huge mistake - and a negligent mistake at that.”

Ms Sales disputed the “death trap” description of Cranleigh House. She stressed it was not made the subject of a prohibition order, which would have resulted in the building being closed until the faults were rectified.

She added: “These proceedings have affected the defendant greatly.

“He has had to step down as a director of the company and cannot work as a fire risk assessor again following his conviction.”

Morgan was sentenced by Judge Gary Burrell, who told him he should have known better.

He was handed a three-month jail term sentence for each offence, suspended for 18 months.

He was also fined £2,750 with £19,952 costs. The company was fined £20,000 with £19,952 costs.