A woman who caused the death of a maintenance manager after she set fire to a Westminster hotel room has been jailed.

Nora Es-Sadki Boughima, 19 (05.07.99) of Cambridge Court, Sussex Gardens, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 27 November after she pleaded guilty to manslaughter. She also admitted to arson – this charge will lie on file.

Nora Es-Sadki Boughima,

The court heard police were called to a fire at the Paddington Park Grand Court Hotel in Devonshire Terrace on 30 January.

Richard Staley, the maintenance manager at the hotel, and a colleague had tried to extinguish the blaze in a hotel bedroom.

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.

Richard Staley

An investigation by the London Fire Brigade established the fire had been started as a result of the bed being deliberately set alight.

Westminster borough detectives identified that Es-Sadki Boughima had asked a receptionist for a lighter just 20 minutes before the fire started.

Analysis of CCTV revealed that Es-Sadki Boughima, a sex worker, had spent the night of 29 January with a man in a room at the hotel.

The man, who was traced by police, said he had met her in a nightclub the previous evening.

In police interview, the man said he had agreed to pay Es-Sadki Boughima £300 but only paid her £150 before leaving the room at about 8.30am, while she was sleeping.

CCTV from the hotel showed that Es-Sadki Boughima left the room minutes before the fire alarm went off at about 14.50hrs.

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.

Detective Constable Mike Reilly, of Westminster borough, 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.”