Crown seeks £30,000 fine in hotel case

Tuesday 18th October 2005, 12:00AM BST.

THE Crown have called for a £30,000 fine for the company which owns the Sarum Hotel for using part of the building for private accommodation.

The case, which continued today, has so far cost the taxpayer more than £100,000 in legal expenses, but due to legal precedent only a maximum of £30,000 costs can be sought against the accused company.

The company were charged with infractions of the Planning and Public Health laws for the unauthorised change of use of part of the Sarum Hotel to private dwelling accommodation.

Following a not guilty plea, the company was found guilty on both charges in the Royal Court in June.

Crown Advocate Conrad Yates said that the charges arose from people being encouraged to live in self-contained units at the hotel.

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