BREAKING NEWS: Company found guilty of Durrington crane collapse failings

W D Bennett Plant and Services Ltd, based in Gloucestershire, was today found guilty of two offences after a two-week trial at Chichester Crown Court.

Eurolift, which is owned by Bennetts, pleaded guilty before the trial started to two offences under health and safety legislation.

During the trial, Nigel Lithman QC, prosecuting, told the court how crane driver David Smith, 57, incorrectly loosened bolts on a crane being dismantled on the site at Durrington High School on

February 11, 2005.

The crane subsequently collapsed, killing Mr Smith's colleagues; Gary Miles, 37, and Stephen Boatman, 45, both from Reading.

Mr Smith suffered broken bones and cuts when he was knocked unconscious and entangled in cables as the crane fell.

Mr Lithman said overall responsibilty for the tragedy rested with the defendant.

He said: "The crane collapsed because an unqualified man was left to carry out safety critical work and was not supervised when he did so.

"There was no safe system of work in place and there ought to have been."

Mr Lithman said Mr Smith had received "flimsy" instructions on how to loosen bolts on the 36m crane from Mr Miles and Mr Boatman but was

"wholly untrained" in the loosening procedure, known as "de-torquing".

Judge William Wood said the case would be adjourned pending financial reports, which would establish the level of the "significant" fines Judge Wood said the companies would face.

Speaking outside the court, Ben Boatman, 23, son of Stephen Boatman, said the result would help his family move on from the tragedy.

For the full story, see next week's Worthing Herald.