A dominatrix who forced men to dress as women while they were chained up, gagged and whipped faces an £8,000 bill ... for breaching fire safety laws.

Lorraine White, 41, was prosecuted by the fire service after they were called to a fire and could not get in to her sex dungeon in Stockport.

Stockport magistrates’ court heard how firemen finally gained access and found a trove of handcuffs, chains and other restraining devices in the basement.

Crews were called to the building on Vauxhall industrial estate, Greg Street, on October 30, 2012 after a maintenance man reported a basement fire.

They struggled to gain access to the property due to the locked doors but eventually they managed to enter and discovered the sex dungeon.

The fire had been sparked by a leaking gas heater.

When questioned, White, the proprietor of the business admitted she had no idea she was responsible for fire safety arrangements.

There was only one manually operated fire alarm and one fire exit was permanently locked.

Fire investigators found several canisters of nitrous oxide, laughing gas, which White’s clients used to get high.

Elizabeth Dudley-Jones, prosecuting, said: “She was asked what would happen if there was a fire when her clients were under the influence of the gas and restrained. She said she had not considered it.”

“She said nothing was too severe. Slight bondage, possibly a mask or gag. It involved a lot of humiliation: doing domestic work and dressing up in women’s clothes.”

White, a former beautician, from Chaseley Road, Salford, pleaded guilty to four charges of fire safety rules, including failing to carry out a risk assessment, install suitable fire alarms, maintain emergency exits, or install emergency lighting.

She was fined £5,000 for the offences and ordered to pay £3,000 costs and a £120 victim charge.

White, who earns £1,100 a month from the business and spent £10,000 refurbishing her smoke-damaged dungeon, agreed to pay the sum at £100 a month.

Peter Grogan, defending, described his client as a small business woman of good character.

He said the business now fully complied with the fire service requirements.

Concluding the case, Chairman of the bench Michael Johnson said: “If you find a business where you can earn more don’t hesitate.”

Peter O’Reilly, GMFRS’ Director of Prevention and Protection, said: “No matter what business you may have, you must take fire safety seriously.

“In this case the defendant admitted that she didn’t know about the regulations and that she had done nothing to make the premises safe.

“I would urge all businesses to ensure their risk assessments are up to date and that the proper procedures are in place to give staff and customers the best possible chance of escape in the event of a fire.”

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