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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Roofing chief jailed over death | Roofing chief jailed over death |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The owner of a roofing company has been jailed for 10 months after admitting the manslaughter of an apprentice who fell through a shop skylight. | The owner of a roofing company has been jailed for 10 months after admitting the manslaughter of an apprentice who fell through a shop skylight. |
| Roy Clark, 50, from Cefn Cribwr, Bridgend, allowed Daniel Dennis, 17, to go onto the roof of a Matalan store without being properly supervised. | |
| Daniel, from Pyle, Bridgend, had worked for the company for less than a week when he fell at Cwmbran, Torfaen. | Daniel, from Pyle, Bridgend, had worked for the company for less than a week when he fell at Cwmbran, Torfaen. |
| The judge said the sentence would serve as a deterrent to other employers. | The judge said the sentence would serve as a deterrent to other employers. |
| Clark was also ordered to pay £18,000 in court and Health and Safety Executive costs. | Clark was also ordered to pay £18,000 in court and Health and Safety Executive costs. |
| Daniel was working for Clark's company North Eastern Roofing in April 2003 when he went out onto a roof unaccompanied looking for a piece of timber for a colleague. | Daniel was working for Clark's company North Eastern Roofing in April 2003 when he went out onto a roof unaccompanied looking for a piece of timber for a colleague. |
| The court heard that he fell through a fragile roof light and suffered severe head injuries and internal bleeding, later dying in hospital. | The court heard that he fell through a fragile roof light and suffered severe head injuries and internal bleeding, later dying in hospital. |
| A prison sentence is immaterial - he has pleaded guilty and that's all we wanted Peter Dennis, father of victim, pictured with his wife Anthea | A prison sentence is immaterial - he has pleaded guilty and that's all we wanted Peter Dennis, father of victim, pictured with his wife Anthea |
| Clark had admitted manslaughter by failing in his duty of care to Daniel. | Clark had admitted manslaughter by failing in his duty of care to Daniel. |
| Mr Justice Griffith Williams said: "This resulted in a loss of a young life, so full of promise. | Mr Justice Griffith Williams said: "This resulted in a loss of a young life, so full of promise. |
| "With one-fifth of construction deaths caused by falls from or through roofs, the dangers of working on roofs are all too obvious. | "With one-fifth of construction deaths caused by falls from or through roofs, the dangers of working on roofs are all too obvious. |
| "As a man with 30 years' experience, you knew full well the dangers. Your sentence will serve as a deterrent for other business people." | "As a man with 30 years' experience, you knew full well the dangers. Your sentence will serve as a deterrent for other business people." |
| 'Long hard struggle' | 'Long hard struggle' |
| Robin Spencer QC, prosecuting, said no-one knew whether Daniel had stepped onto the light or toppled through it. | Robin Spencer QC, prosecuting, said no-one knew whether Daniel had stepped onto the light or toppled through it. |
| David Aubrey QC, defending, said Mr Clark acknowledged he had failed to give general safety instructions not to go onto the roof or any other site without supervision. | David Aubrey QC, defending, said Mr Clark acknowledged he had failed to give general safety instructions not to go onto the roof or any other site without supervision. |
| "He failed to ensure that those who had supervision of Daniel were instructed adequately. | "He failed to ensure that those who had supervision of Daniel were instructed adequately. |
| "He failed to ensure that the roof lights were adequately fenced off," he told the court. | "He failed to ensure that the roof lights were adequately fenced off," he told the court. |
| Daniel had got the job after his father Peter, a friend of Clark's, had approached the roofer, but he had specifically asked for his son not to go onto roofs until he was properly trained, Mr Spencer told the court. | Daniel had got the job after his father Peter, a friend of Clark's, had approached the roofer, but he had specifically asked for his son not to go onto roofs until he was properly trained, Mr Spencer told the court. |
| Clark was prosecuted following a campaign by Daniel's parents, Peter and Anthea Dennis, to get a judicial review to overturn a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service in 2006 not to hold a trial. | Clark was prosecuted following a campaign by Daniel's parents, Peter and Anthea Dennis, to get a judicial review to overturn a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service in 2006 not to hold a trial. |
| An inquest jury in Newport returned an unlawful killing verdict. | An inquest jury in Newport returned an unlawful killing verdict. |
| Mrs Dennis read out a statement in court describing the effect of losing her son. | Mrs Dennis read out a statement in court describing the effect of losing her son. |
| "His enthusiasm for life took your breath away," she said. "I would give up my life to hold him for five minutes." | "His enthusiasm for life took your breath away," she said. "I would give up my life to hold him for five minutes." |
| Speaking outside court, Mr Dennis said: "It is a relief. It has been a long hard struggle but we got justice for Daniel. | Speaking outside court, Mr Dennis said: "It is a relief. It has been a long hard struggle but we got justice for Daniel. |
| "I put my faith in the legal system and it has come up trumps. A prison sentence is immaterial - he has pleaded guilty and that's all we wanted. | "I put my faith in the legal system and it has come up trumps. A prison sentence is immaterial - he has pleaded guilty and that's all we wanted. |
| "We have to serve a life sentence ourselves - me and my family will always be grieving." | "We have to serve a life sentence ourselves - me and my family will always be grieving." |