Gross Negligence Manslaughter Conviction

Allan Compton QC and Shauna Ritchie prosecuted two company directors and two companies in a four-week trial before Wall J at Brighton Crown Court. The case concerned the death of a roofing sub-contractor working on the re-development of the Lansdowne Hotel in Brighton. Steven Wenham, the site manager and director of Total Contractors Ltd was convicted of gross negligence manslaughter and offences contrary to s37 Health and Safety at Work Act. He was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. Total Contractors Ltd were convicted of two offences contrary to s2 and s3 Health and Safety at Work Act and fined £210,000. John Nicholas Spiller a director of Southern Asphalting Limited was convicted of an offence contrary to s3 Health and Safety at Work Act and sentenced to 15 months imprisonment. Southern Asphalt Limited pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to s3 Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined £120,000.