A WINSFORD businessman has been sent to jail after an employee was crushed to death at his firm in Winsford Industrial Estate, four years after his last conviction involving a workplace death.

Kenneth Thelwall, 53, of Burleigh Road, Enfield, previously from Nantwich, appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Friday, August 26, and was sentenced to 12 months in prison after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to a charge of failing to ensure the safety of an employee.

He will serve half of the term in jail before serving the rest of the sentence on licence. He was also fined £4,000.

The court heard that the father-of-four, who was the sole director of Thorn Warehousing Ltd, had made several health and safety failings which had led to the death of employee and distant family member, Paul Williamson.

Judge Michael Leeming said: “Mr Williamson was put needlessly at risk. Your attitude towards health and safety at the time of the accident was cavalier to say the least.”

Thelwall had bought a mobile elevating work platform, known as a MEWP and initially, it was taken to and from the site using a pickup trailer which could help with the loading and unloading process.

Thelwall then decided he needed the trailer for other means and modified another trailer and bought ramps to help with the loading process, despite being given professional advice that the ramps were not right for the job.

This, along with what was described in court as a ‘frightening lack of regard to health and safety’ and lack of supervision, was deemed to be a contributing factor to the accident which saw the MEWP fall onto the father-of-three, Mr Williamson.

Mr Williamson’s daughter, Helen Brookes, paid tribute to her ‘much-loved’ dad.

“My father was a loving person who liked to laugh and joke. He was a great father, brother and son and was a much-loved person in the wider community. His funeral was packed full.

“Everyone in the family has been affected by his death. He will miss my wedding day and will never get to be a grandfather, and my future children will never get the grandfather who they would have adored.”

Mr Williamson’s death was the second workplace death under direct management of Thelwall.

In 2010, Thelwall pleaded guilty to neglect of safety at work after his employee Bernard Rowson was crushed to death in a metal gate.

Judge Leeming added: “Two men have now tragically died in the workplace at a time when you were the sole director of the company. You have shown your intention to never again be a director of a company, but you may change your mind so I disqualify you from being a director of a company for seven years.”

Thorn Warehousing Ltd was also fined £166,000 as well as being ordered to pay £10,400 court costs. However, Judge Leeming admitted that it was unlikely that the fined would ever be paid as the company is due to be dissolved.