Crush death driver jailed
A DIGGER driver from Doncaster who crushed and killed another worker because he was too idle to follow safety rules has been jailed.
Relatives of Bentley man Michael Ernest Roys wept after a judge at Leeds Crown Court gave him a 12 months' sentence for manslaughter.
The hearing heard Roys, aged 59, of Pipering Lane, had literacy problems - causing difficulties for him in reading safety notices.
But he had been too lazy to get out of the cab of his JCB excavator to check the bucket was properly attached when it was changed.
A metal safety pin should have prevented it falling off.
But it was not inserted by Roys, who was working for Westmoreland Plant Hire at Drax power station, near Selby, and his negligence caused a fatal accident.
While the defendant was digging a drainage trench, Alwyne Parkinson was standing in the trench when the bucket slipped from the arm of JCB and landed on his chest.
Other workers raced to heave the bucket up and pull him clear but Mr Parkinson, from Brigg, North Lincolnshire, died in hospital a few days later from multi-organ failure.
Roys, who had never had an accident in 27 years with the firm, said he was "sorry, mate" and went into shock, said Tom Storey, prosecuting.
The safety pin that should have held the bucket in the event of hydraulic failure was found lying on the floor of the cab and showed little sign of having been used.
When interviewed by police, Roys admitted he had not used the safety pin all day because of what he conceded was laziness on his part.
"He agreed it was wrong and knew he should have used it," said Mr Storey.
Dale Harris, defending, said Roys, who pleaded guilty to the offence, wanted to personally say to Mr Parkinson's family how sorry he was and offered his sincere condolences.
He said the defendant was a quivering wreck after the accident and it had a devastating effect on his own health, which had led to him being diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
"He has since been unable to work. He has struggled to cope with his emotional reaction and has since lost interest in his usual pastimes," said Mr Harris.
The barrister added that Roys had an excellent work record and was also prominent in the Pubwatch scheme through his links with the Bentley Miners' Welfare Club.
Judge Peter Collier, the Recorder of Leeds, said: "The references speak highly of your good character and value to the community. But the only sentence that can be passed is a custodial sentence."
The judge said the shortness took into account mitigating factors, including his remorse, positive good character and that he did not intend to cause injury.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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