AN ANIMAL sanctuary boss has been warned he could face jail after admitting a series of fire safety offences.

John Warwick-Huckvale, 53, runs the Swindon and District Animal Haven at Warwick Farm, Ballards Ash, Wootton Bassett.

In March last year an investigation uncovered a number of safety problems which could put people at risk of death or injury in the event of a fire.

As well as discovering systems for fire safety had not been properly implemented, they established that the fire alarm didn’t work.

They also found one of the fire extinguishers was unusable, because it did not have the correct discharge hose attached to it.

Fire safety equipment was also found to be ‘not immediately accessible’ and inadequately signed.

Warwick-Huckvale, of Whitecastle, Toothill, pleaded guilty to five fire safety offences at Swindon Crown Court.

He pleaded not guilty to three similar charges, which related to organisation and procedures for fire safety, and they were dropped.

The maximum sentence for the offences he admitted is two years jail plus a fine.

Warwick-Huckvale, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, was told he must submit a full financial report before he is sentenced.

Noel Sweeney, defending, asked for his client’s bail to continue while the probation service compiled a pre-sentence report.

Recorder Geraint Walters agreed and adjourned the case to Friday October 28 when sentence will be passed.

He said “The fact that I am asking for reports in your case and granting you bail between now and sentence can’t be taken by you as any sort of indication of the sort of sentence in mind.

“I will not be the person sentencing you and no hope should be read into it. All options remain open.”

Warwick-Huckvale and his wife run the 20-acre plot to the east of Wootton Bassett where they care for scores of animals.