News

Pembroke Dock: Accidental death verdict following cherry picker fall

Published

9 years ago

March 27, 2015

AN INQUEST into the death of Stephen John Greenaway from Colport, who died after falling from a cherry picker at Mustang Marine in June 2013 was held at Milford Haven Town Hall on March 26.

Jeremy Davies, the coroner’s officer, said that Stephen had been fifty-years-old from Wolverhampton. He was a scout leader and was a healthy man, who was hardly ever ill. He worked for Advanced Door Engineering, where he installed doors and was a health and safety conductor. The company sub-contracted from Shufflebottom Steel Frame Buildings, based in Cross Hands. He had been working at Mustang Marine in Pembroke Dock, installing large doors. At approximately 8am on June 4, Stephen and his colleague, Ian Hinton, went up in a cherry picker, about 30m in the air. At one point, Stephen unclipped his harness in order to let his colleague pass him. Stephen attempted to move the cherry picker, but it swung and he fell to the ground. He was unconscious and airlifted to a hospital in Cardiff. He was pronounced dead at 10am.

David Ryan Morgan, who works as a health and safety manager for Shufflebottom said that he had seen Stephen unclipped from the cherry picker while in the air earlier in the morning, and he had said; “There is a line in the sand you do not want to cross, and you crossed it” He told him that it could not happen again. He left them and shortly after heard the sound of metal on metal. Assuming that something had dropped from the cherry picker, he ran back to where Stephen and Ian’s machinery was situated. Ian was in the cherry picker basket and Stephen’s body lay on the ground. He was wearing his safety harness, but David could not tell if Stephen had been clipped on to the cherry picker. At the end of his evidence, he said; “In my view, this unfortunate incident would not have happened if Steve had been clipped on.”

Stephen’s colleague, Ian Paul Hinton, who has worked for Advanced Door Energy for thirteen years, said that he had been staying at a Travelodge with Stephen and work was anticipated to be finished by the end of the week. This was the biggest job either of the men had undertaken. Stephen had been in control of the cherry picker on the day of his death. After thirty minutes of being in the cherry picker, Stephen unclipped himself for five minutes in order to allow Ian past him. The cherry picker would not turn left as it was caught on a chain, the basket spring and shot to the left with a flick. Stephen flung over the side, and Ian could not grab him. Ian expected to see Stephen hanging from his lanyard, but he had fallen to the ground. Stephen had undertaken a safety course two days before Ian.

Health and safety inspector, Hayley Healey confirmed that Stephen had not been clipped to the lanyard. Jamie Davies, who is also a health and safety inspector, said that there were no defects to the machine likely to have affected the accident.

A post mortem report confirmed that Stephen died of multiple injuries. Extensive head injuries meant that there was no considerable amount of survival time after the initial injury.

The coroner ruled that the death was accidental.

Crime

Unanimous verdict in Ceredigion sexual assault case

Published

1 day ago

May 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A CEREDIGION man has been convicted to three years and six months in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in her own bed after the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.

27-year-old Suroj Bk, from Llangrannog, was sentenced this week following a week-long trial at Swansea Crown Court (May 1).

On 7 October 2023, Dyfed-Powys Police received a report that Bk entered the victim’s home and sexually assaulted her while she lay in her bed.

When the victim realised what was happening, she kicked Bk out of her bed and called the police.

Upon receiving the report, officers quickly attended the victim’s home and conducted a thorough search of the surrounding area using police dogs and scenes of crime officers.

Evidence gathered from scene, together with extensive local enquiries, led officers to arrest Suroj Bk the next day (8 October).

While Bk was in custody, detectives, crime scene investigators, and digital forensic officers worked tirelessly to uncover the evidence that ultimately placed Suroj Bk at the scene.

After hearing the evidence, the jury took less than two hours to agree a unanimous guilty verdict.

The detective in charge of the case has praised the victim for her ‘tremendous courage’ in reporting the assault to police.

“Incidents of this nature are thankfully very rare within Ceredigion, and I’d like to reassure the community that this was an isolated incident, and that the identification and arrest of suspect was done quickly and efficiently,” said Detective Inspector Sam Gregory.

“The victim in this case demonstrated tremendous courage in reporting to police, and while this investigation was not straightforward in its nature, it was through the expertise and tenacity of forensic officers, working together with the investigation team, and the victim, that led to this successful prosecution.

“I hope the sentence given to Suroj Bk sends a clear and strong message that Dyfed-Powys Police takes reports of sexual offences seriously.

“We will listen to you, and we will work tirelessly to get justice.”

On Wednesday, 1 May 2024, Saroj Bk was sentenced to three years and six months in prison and a five-year restraining order, and he will be on the sex offenders register for life.

If you have been a victim of a crime such as this, report it to Dyfed-Powys Police either through a direct message on social media, online at: https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/v1/rape-sexual-assault-other-sexual-offences/, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

In an emergency, always call 999.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.

News

Body recovered confirmed to be Luke Stephenson, say police

Published

1 day ago

May 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS police have said today that the body found on Wednesday, May 1, has been confirmed to be Luke Stephenson, who was reported missing from the Pembroke Dock area on April 14.

A spokesperson for the force said: “We will continue to support the family and will assist with issuing a tribute publicly if the family wish to do so.”

In a statement, his family said: “Luke was a joyful and funny young man and always wanted to help others. He was a loving son, brother, grandson and uncle, and will be forever missed.
“We have lost a huge part of our family, and our loss is shared by his many friends who also loved him dearly.
“We would like to thank the local community for the overwhelming support we have received.”

Business

Port of Milford Haven now official ‘a great place to work’

Published

1 day ago

May 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PORT of Milford Haven has been officially accredited as a Great Place to Work-Certified™ organisation. As the first Port Authority in Britain to secure this Certification™, it is a significant achievement.

“We are very proud to be Great Place to Work-Certified™,” said Vidette Swales, HR Director at the Port of Milford Haven. “It means so much that our employees have reported a consistently positive experience with their colleagues, their leaders and their jobs. Offering a positive employee experience is not only beneficial for the people who work with us but is also key for our continued business success.”

Tom Sawyer, CEO at the Port of Milford Haven added: “Our team is operating the UK’s leading energy port, and it is of the utmost importance that we do that safely, responsibly and effectively. We’re striving for excellence and aim to provide a world class service to our customers as well as supporting sustainable coastal communities for the prosperity of future generations. Our employees are clearly at the centre of this which is why I’m delighted that they feel supported in their role. I’m especially proud that this Certification™ demonstrates our core values of Safety, Excellence, Collaboration and Sustainability so perfectly.”

“We congratulate the Port of Milford Haven on achieving their Certification™,” said Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place to Work® UK. “Organisations which put the employee experience at the heart of their business gain their employees’ trust and, in turn, are truly able to build a great workplace culture that delivers outstanding business results.”