A company director responsible for health and safety failings which led to four Suffolk men being crushed to death has been spared prison at his Old Bailey sentencing today.
David Groucott, of Hinderclay Road, Rickinghall, near Diss, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.
The 44-year-old must also undertake 200 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay £7,500 towards prosecution costs.
Groucott and his company Encompass Project Management Ltd, which stopped trading in 2012, did not have the competencies to undertake construction work on new test bays at Claxton Engineering Limited in North River Road, Great Yarmouth.
However, Claxton Engineering Services appointed Encompass as its principal contractor in 2010.
Encompass and Groucott subcontracted the groundwork of the project to Hazegood Construction Ltd, for which the four men who died worked.
The company is no longer in business.
Daniel Hazelton, 30, his brother Thomas, 26, and Peter Johnson, 42, all from Stanton near Bury St Edmunds, were killed along with Adam Taylor, 28, of Rickinghall, when a large steel cage they were working in collapsed on January 21, 2011.
Claxton Engineering, Encompass and Groucott all previously pleaded guilty at Norwich Crown Court to health and safety charges.
Claxton Engineering was fined £500,000 and ordered to pay costs of £100,000.
Encompass was given a nominal fine of £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £50,000.
Mr Justice Jeremy Baker told the court Groucott was currently discharging the company’s debts.
When sentencing Groucott the judge praised the bereaved families after he had read letters from relatives relating to Groucott who was a friend and workmate of those who died.
Mr Justice Baker described the contents of the letters “as a tribute to their generosity of spirit”.
The court had previously heard found serious flaws in the planning, management and monitoring of the complex project.
The Hazeltons, Mr Taylor and Mr Johnson, all died of traumatic asphyxiation. After the steel cage collapsed on them at least two of the men shouted for help and one was known to have been alive 12 minutes later. However, by the time rescuers got to them a further 12 minutes afterwards all four were dead.
Mr Justice Baker told the court Groucott: “Your offending was a significant cause of their deaths.”
He made a similar remark referring to Claxton Engineering.
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