CPS News Brief

Building manager jailed over falling window frames which killed Amanda Telfer

A building manager has been jailed over safety failures which resulted in the death of a woman who was killed by falling window frames.

Passerby Amanda Telfer, 43, died after being hit by three falling window frames as she was walking past a construction site in Hanover Square, London, on 30 August 2012.

The frames had been delivered to a construction site and left leaning, unsecured against a wall.

Kelvin Adsett, 64, was responsible for placement of the frames and the failure to secure them. He was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment today [5 May] at the Central Criminal Court after being found guilty of manslaughter following a trial at the Central Criminal Court.

IS Europe Ltd, the company which employed Adsett, was found guilty of health and safety charges. It would have been fined £100,000 in today’s sentencing but it had only £250 left in its bank account after falling dormant.

Damian Lakin-Hall, 50, was the site manager employed by Westgreen Construction. He was sentenced to a six month prison sentence suspended for two years after he was found guilty of failing to take reasonable care for health and safety.

Graham Partridge, of the CPS, said:

“If Kelvin Adsett, Damian Lakin-Hall and IS Europe had complied with their legal responsibilities, Amanda Telfer would not have died.

“They were delivering and storing large, very heavy window frames and should have known that, unsecured, they presented a serious danger to the public on what was a windy day.

“The CPS case was that the defendants’ conduct was so bad that those involved bore criminal responsibility for Ms Telfer’s tragic death.

“We hope that these convictions will bring some sense of justice for her family.”


Notes
Kelvin Adsett, [10/08/1952], IS Europe employee was found guilty of manslaughter

Damian Lakin-Hall, [01/01/1967], Westgreen project manager was found guilty of failing to take reasonable care whilst at work

IS Europe Ltd – was found guilty of failure to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees at work, and exposing another to a risk to health and safety

Cambridge University professor sentenced for possessing indecent images

A university professor who admitted possessing almost 2,000 indecent images of children has been given a suspended prison sentence today (Fri 5 May).

Simon Jarvis, 53, of Cambridge, pleaded guilty to a variety of offences, including distributing indecent images to others via the internet.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, at Cambridge Crown Court. He must also attend a course for sex offenders.

Laura Tams, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

“Simon Jarvis was found to be in possession of a large amount of indecent images of children, including more than 40 at the most serious level.

“He also used the internet to share images with others and to engage in fantasy conversations about child abuse.

“Prosecutors and investigators worked together to build a compelling case, resulting in the guilty pleas entered.”

The prosecution followed an investigation by the National Crime Agency.

Ends

Notes to Editors

Jarvis admitted the following offences:

2 x Distributing indecent images of children

4 x Making indecent images of children

1 x Possession of extreme pornography

5 x Possession of prohibited images of children

·         Laura Tams is a Specialist Prosecutor with the CPS International Justice and Organised Crime Division.

Man convicted of planning an explosion on a London tube train

A 20-year-old man has today (3 May) been convicted of planning to cause an explosion after leaving a bomb packed with explosives and ball bearings on a London Underground train. 

Damon Smith had constructed the device using instructions taken from an Al-Qaeda-published magazine. 

On 20 October 2016, Smith left the bomb on a Jubilee Line train at Southwark station after setting the timer with the intent of causing an explosion. The bomb, which failed to explode, was found by passengers and passed to staff who cleared the platform.  

 

Sue Hemming of the CPS said:

“Damon Smith’s actions were incredibly dangerous and the consequences had the device worked do not bear thinking about. Although he claimed this was a prank, the bomb he left on the train was clearly designed to cause horrific injuries. 

“I would like to express my thanks to the quick-thinking members of the public and TFL staff for the way they dealt with this incident.”

Former football coach jailed for child sex offences

A former PE teacher and football coach has today (May 2) been sentenced to 24 years in prison for sexual offences against a young boy.

Michael Smee, 39, from Stevenage, was found guilty of sexually assaulting and raping a child under 13 years old, following a trial at Cambridge Crown Court.   He pleaded guilty to four further counts of sexual activity with a child.

The court was told Smee met his victim through football coaching.  The offences took place over a period of more than two years from January 2013 until April 2016.

 

Frances Bush from the CPS said: 

“Smee took advantage of a position of trust and his victim’s love of sport to commit these terrible acts.  

“It is thanks to the victim’s bravery in coming forward and the hard work of specialist CPS prosecutors that he will be unable to continue his offending.”

 -ENDS-

 

Notes for Editors:

 

• Frances Bush is Senior Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Thames and Chiltern.
• At the time of the offences Smee was employed as a teacher at a school in Hertfordshire and also worked as a part-time football coach.