Company where Shropshire man died helping lorry reverse into workplace fined £7,500
A company which admitted a health and safety charge after a Shropshire worker died when he was hit by a car outside his place of work has today received a court penalty of £12,500.
Judge Niclas Parry stressed at Mold Crown Court that it was left in an invidious position of dealing with a case which involved the death of Phillip Ledward, a heavy goods vehicle mechanic from Bathfield Crescent, Whitchurch.
He said Mr Ledward was a well liked and highly regarded, respectable employee, father and husband, but had to impose what could be seen as a derisory penalty.
But he said the public would understand that no sentence could, and was never intended to, reflect that tragic loss of life.
While setting the financial penalty, the court could not ignore the reality that it was a company of limited means.
"I must have regard to their finances," he said.
Arkenfield Stable Hire Ltd based at Bronington, on the Shropshire border, changed its plea yesterday to a charge of failing to ensure the health and safety of employee Mr Phillip Ledward, who was hit by a car outside the premises as he was about to help a lorry reverse off the road into the yard.
It was fined £7,500 and ordered to pay costs of £5,000.
The judge said that if the company had significant resources then the financial penalty would have been £50,000.
