Jail for chimney death

The negligent employer of a 23 year-old construction labourer who died when a two tonne chimney collapsed on him, has been sentenced to two years in prison for manslaughter.
Thorncliffe Estate, BatleyThorncliffe Estate, Batley
Thorncliffe Estate, Batley

Nigel Parker, 56, had hired father of one Daniel Hough as an emergency worker when he was left short-staffed for a job at a house in Batley.

Parker, a self-employed builder for 40 years, had earlier pleaded guilty to manslaughter and two health and safety breaches.

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Leeds Crown Court heard that Mr Hough, described as a “hard-working individual keen to take on job opportunities that arose”, was asked to help out at a construction job at a property on Thorncliffe Estate in July 2013, despite not having any building qualifications.

He was left unsupervised for 40 minutes while Parker attended a meeting elsewhere.

The chimney, which was due to be removed, had been left unsupported as Mr Hough was instructed to demolish brickwork beneath it. Alistair MacDonald QC, for the prosecution, said that engineers who later inspected the property could find “no valid reason why the work was undertaken in the way that it was” and said Parker had been “cutting corners in an attempt to save time and money”. In police interviews Parker lied about the scale of the work in an unsuccessful attempt to cover his tracks.

Mitigating, Lisa Roberts QC, said that Parker, a father of two from Sherburn in Elmet, had since suffered from depression and had on one occasion tried to take his own life.

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She said: “To the family he offers his heartfelt sympathy, remorse and apologies for his own conduct on that day.”

Speaking after the sentence, Detective Superintendent Jon Morgan of West Yorkshire Police said: “On July 25, 2013 Nigel Parker took a risk and Daniel Hough paid for that risk with his life. His death was a tragedy, not least because it could have been avoided if Mr Parker had fulfilled his duty of care to his employees. It is by sheer luck that other people, including the occupants of the house, avoided injury.

“Today’s sentence serves as a reminder to employers and businesses that cutting corners with regard to health and safety has serious consequences - it ruins the lives of individuals and families and will result in criminal proceedings where appropriate.

“Our thoughts are with Mr Hough’s family and we hope that they are able to rebuild their lives without him and take some comfort that justice has been served.”

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