A Staffordshire woman suffered 65 per cent burns after she was trapped under an electric sunbed for two and a half hours.

Melanie Wraith had rented the sunbed from Terence Howell, the former owner of a sunbed rental business in Stoke-on-Trent. When she first used it she noticed that the lower part came on straight away, which it should not have done. She set the timer for 12 minutes but shortly afterwards the top part of the sunbed fell on top of her and she suffered an electric shock which rendered her unconscious. When she came round she had been on the sunbed for 2 hours 40 minutes.

Miss Wraith was taken to North Staffordshire Hospital for treatment to her burns but has lost the feeling in her right hand as a result of her ordeal.

The sunbed was found to have five faults. Mr Howell admitted a charge under the Consumer Protection Act of supplying unsafe equipment and is likely to face a jail sentence.

Miss Wraith is also taking civil action for damages on account of her injuries.