Yahoo News Sex worker jailed for six years after starting a fire that killed hotel manager one day from retirement
A sex worker who torched a Westminster hotel room killing a maintenance manager one day away from his retirement has been jailed for six years.
The Old Bailey heard on Tuesday how Nora Es-Sadki Boughima had stayed at the Paddington Park Grand Court Hotel in Devonshire Terrace on January 29 with a man she met in a nightclub.
The man, who has since been traced by police, said he had agreed to pay Es-Sadki Boughima £300 but left while she was still sleeping at around 8.30am on January 30 leaving just £150.
CCTV from the hotel showed that Es-Sadki Boughima left the room minutes before the fire alarm went off at about 2.50pm, just 20 minutes earlier she had asked a receptionist for a lighter before setting fire to the bed.
Richard Staley, the maintenance manager at the hotel, and a colleague had tried to extinguish the blaze in a hotel bedroom before the emergency services arrived.
Following his efforts to tackle the fire Mr Staley, who was one day away from retiring, collapsed and had a heart attack.
He was taken to hospital and remained in a coma until he died on 24 February.
An investigation by the London Fire Brigade established the fire had been started as a result of the bed being deliberately set alight.
Es-Sadki Boughima, who gave a series of ‘no comment’ interviews was charged on 2 February with arson and pleaded guilty to this charge at Southwark Crown Court on 6 March.
She was charged with manslaughter on 4 July and pleaded guilty to this charge at the Old Bailey on 12 October.
Es-Sadki Boughima, 19, of Cambridge Court, Sussex Gardens, London, was jailed for six years at the Old Bailey on Tuesday after she pleaded guilty to manslaughter. She also admitted to arson – this charge will lie on file.
Detective Constable Mike Reilly, of Westminster borough police, said: “As a result of her anger at not being paid, Es-Sadki Boughima sought her revenge by deliberately setting fire to the bed in the hotel room. This was a reckless act that endangered the lives of people in the hotel and neighbouring properties.
“Mr Staley, who tragically was just one day away from his retirement, bravely tackled the blaze with a fire extinguisher. Shortly afterwards, he collapsed and later died in hospital. The fire was established as a direct cause of his death.
“Mr Staley had worked at the hotel for 18 years and was a very popular member of staff. His colleagues have been left deeply upset at his death.
“I am glad that Es-Sadki has now shown some remorse by pleading guilty to manslaughter. The sentence reflects the serious consequences of her actions.”
