A man who suffered chemical burns after sitting on a new leather sofa has received a four-figure sum in compensation.

Maurice Heminsley, 68, has become the first person in Britain to win compensation after buying a ‘toxic sofa’. The problem arose because sofas that were imported from China contained a sachet of a fungicide called dimethyl fumarate (DMF), which was used in order to stop the leather going mouldy when it was stored in humid conditions.

Shortly after buying the sofa from Furniture Warehouse, Mr Heminsley developed a painful rash across his legs, bottom, back and neck. The weeping, open sores left him in agony and he eventually had to go to hospital where he was treated for acute contact dermatitis.

A number of people across the UK have suffered skin burns and allergic reactions which they attribute to having been in contact with sofas and some people have been left with permanent scars. It emerged that DMF can evaporate when the conditions are warm and soak through the upholstery to the skin. Products containing DMF have now effectively been banned by the European Commission and the sofas removed from the market.

After bringing a personal injury claim, Mr Heminsley secured an undisclosed amount in compensation, as well as a full refund for his sofa, from Furniture Warehouse.