Tragic case involving fatal accident arising out of Health & Safety breaches concludes. Robert Stevenson instructed from inquest through to sentence at Durham Crown Court.

In December 2015, Simon Hogg tragically died whilst working for his employer, a waste recycling firm in County Durham. A second employee, Raymond Garrett, was also seriously injured when the two men became trapped inside a large industrial trommel machine when it was turned on and started to rotate.

On 6th January 2021, Stonegrave Aggregates Limited of Aycliffe Quarry, Newton, Aycliffe, Durham pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

A director of Stonegrave Aggregates Limited, Bruce Whitley, and the Site Manager, David Basham, both pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, namely that the company’s offence had been committed with their consent or connivance or was attributable to their neglect.

After discount for pleas, Recorder Jamie Hill Q.C. fined the company £200,000 and ordered that they pay prosecution costs in the sum of £48,952. Bruce Whitley was sentenced to a 12 month community order and David Basham received a six month prison sentence, which was suspended for 12 months.

Robert Stevenson represented the HSE throughout these proceedings, he appeared at the coroners court when the inquest was held in 2019 and continued to conduct the case through to its conclusion in the Crown Court.

 

For HSE press report click here

For press coverage see the links below:

To read the BBC’s coverage click here 

To access the article in the Northern Echo click here

 

Robert Stevenson is an A list Specialist regulatory Advocate and is ranked in Tier 1 for Regulatory, Health and Safety, and Licensing – the Legal 500 (2020)

“He is friendly and approachable but tough when he needs to be”” a key name to note” Legal 500 (2021)

‘Canny and adept at identifying the really important issues. ’ – Legal 500 (2020)

“Practical and very well organised.” – The Legal 500 (2019)

“Charismatic, astute and approachable” – The Legal 500 (2019)

 

Contact Robert’s clerks

Madeleine Gray on 0113 202 8603

Patrick Urbina on 0113 213 5250