Month: December 2015

Father of 28 Jailed for Child Abuse

A 60 year old man, labelled Britain’s most prolific father, has recently been sentenced to over 5 years in prison for sexual child abuse and taking naked photos of a young girl over a 3 year period.

Britain’s Most Prolific Father

Michael Redman was dubbed Britain’s most prolific father last year after it was revealed he had fathered 28 children to 9 different women. It was claimed in the press at the time that Redman would use his position as a bus driver as a way to meet and romance female passengers.

Guildford Crown Court heard that the abuse started in 2008 when the girl was just 12 years old. Redman would visit the victim’s home where he would molest her, forcing her to pose naked for degrading photos. He also took her to various woodland areas in Surrey where he would carry on the abuse and take more photos.

The court heard that the victim was too frightened of Redman to say anything and the abuse continued until she was 15. It was at this time that Redman’s victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, felt she was strong enough to speak out against her attacker. She confided in her own father who encouraged her to go to the police.

Arrest & Admission

Redman, a former Royal Armoured Corps trooper, was arrested after his son Mason was contacted by the victim over social networking site Facebook. Explaining her decision to contact Redman’s son and reveal the lewd photos to him, the victim, now 19, said:

“I wanted Mason to know what his dad was like.”

Jurors heard that Mason, 21 and a military police officer, was furious with his father and confronted Redman over the images, saying:

“I’ve seen the photos. You’re going to prison. Why don’t you jump off a bridge?”

The court also heard how Redman broke down in tears upon admitting the offences to his former wife Maria. She told the court:

“He confessed to me. When I asked him if he had done it, he started to cry and said ‘yes.’”

Denial & Previous Convictions

When questioned by detectives however, Redman denied that any offence had taken place, claiming that he had never been alone with the victim for long enough for it to be possible. He also denied confessing to his former wife, claiming that she was hostile towards him due to his lifestyle, motivating her to lie.

However jurors were told of a previous conviction of Redman’s for violently assaulting his ex-wife and how he was extremely strict with his own children, even enforcing gender specific haircuts for boys and girls.

The court also heard how Redman had previously been questioned by police after he took photos of naked children playing in his garden were taken to a photographic shop to be developed.

Sentencing

Jailing Redman, Judge Peter Moss told him he had perfected the “art of deceit” during the time he groomed and habitually abused the young girl.

The judge criticised Redman for his ‘feckless’ behaviour in his private life as he sentenced him at Guildford Crown Court, saying:

“It seems you were perfecting the art of deceit, which you had practiced in the past it seems, with other women, with whom you had many children.

“I must consider the effect it [a prison sentence] will have on your young children. The impact on them is great by your loss.

“These cases plainly destroy families. That’s something that you are not unused to doing, by looking at your background.”

Reading from a victim impact statement, the prosecution said the abuse had mired the youngster’s schooling and left her wary of men. Abigail Husbands stated:

“She remembers him saying how beautiful she looked and felt he took complete advantage of her,

“She feels she is beginning to be a stronger person but her self-esteem is low and she doesn’t allow herself to become too involved with people of the other sex.”

Redman was jailed for a total of 26 months for assault by penetration, 14 months for making indecent pictures and 18 months for sexual assaults. He was also put on the Sex Offender’s Register and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The latter bans Redman from contacting anyone under the age of 16 without the express permission of a parent or guardian who is aware of his convictions.

Child Abuse Claims – Expert Advice

Hampson Hughes Solicitors specialises in directing sexual abuse claims in a considerate and compassionate manner. Our Abuse & Criminal Injuries Department is headed by Greg Neill – Greg is a member of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers (ACAL).

For an open and friendly conversation about your situation, and to find out how we can assist you relevant to your individual experience, call 0800 888 6 888 or email

You will be given the direct-dial of your case handler, meaning that you will always be able to reach the person you need.

Source: Telegraph

Update: Lord Janner – Historical Child Sex Abuse

Lord Greville Janner served as Labour MP for Leicester from 1970 to 1997. In 1991 allegations of child sex abuse were made against the then Labour peer, allegations which he denied at the time and consequently no further action was taken.

However, earlier in 2015 those allegations resurfaced – with six alleged victims coming forward with details of abuse said to span over 4 decades.

Janner was diagnosed with dementia in 2008 and his condition was the reason behind a decision by Director of Public Prosecutions not to bring charges against him. This decision was later overruled after an appeal by the alleged victims and Janner was summoned to court. In total Janner was charged with 22 counts of historical child sex abuse against young boys, including 15 counts of indecent assault and 7 further counts of a separate sexual offence.

With no improvement to Janner’s mental condition, a judge ruled at the start of December 2015 that he was unfit to stand trial based on based on the evidence of four experts. As a result of this, it was planned that a ‘trial of the facts’ would take place in April next year. Such a trial would not result in Lord Janner’s guilt or conviction, instead a jury would make a decision surrounding whether or not he actually committed the acts of physical abuse.

But this was not to be and Lord Greville Janner passed away on 19th December 2015, just a short time after this decision was made.

‘Robbed of Justice’

It has been reported that his victims now feel as though they have been ‘robbed of justice’ by Janner’s passing. There is also the concern that the planned ‘trial of the facts’ will no longer go ahead.

A former head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has stressed that this is not necessarily the case. Speaking on BBC 4’s Today show recently, Ken Macdonald said:

“The whole point of a trial of the facts is that it does not exist to determine the guilt or innocence of anyone.

“There’s no question of a penal sanction at its conclusion. So it doesn’t, I suppose, require the presence of the defendant. In fact, it only takes place when the defendant is incapable of taking part, as Lord Janner unfortunately was.

“The argument for continuing is that [Janner] was not going to play any part in these proceedings in any event even if he had not unfortunately died.”

Despite such claims, Mr Macdonald does not think the trial of facts should proceed in Janner’s death. He added:

“I think there’s something unseemly about a criminal process to determine the acts of a person who has already died. That would be a ground-breaking proceeding, and probably ground-breaking in an unfortunate way.”

In further U-turn, it has recently come to light that Lord Janner’s £2 million North London flat was transferred back to him before he passed away. The property was signed over to his children in March last year, as police investigated sex abuse claims. This ultimately increases Janner’s alleged victims’ chances of compensation should they attempt to sue his estate.

CPS – ‘Procedural Implications’

Meanwhile, the Crown Prosecution Service said today that it is bearing in mind the ‘procedural implications’ of the sex abuse case against Janner. The CPS has said that the matter will now be considered at a court hearing next year.

In a statement, the CPS said:

“Greville Janner faced criminal proceedings for child sex offences, with a trial of the facts scheduled to take place in April 2016.

“When a defendant dies during criminal proceedings, it is usual that the case no longer goes ahead following formal confirmation of the defendant’s death at a hearing before the court.

“However, we are considering the procedural implications of this specific case. As the High Court will close today until January 11 2016, there can be no hearing before that date.”

It has been suggested his case may be considered as part of the Goddard inquiry, a wider investigation into child abuse in Britain which may take years to conclude.

Sexual Abuse Claims – Expert Advice

Hampson Hughes Solicitors specialises in directing sexual abuse claims in a considerate and compassionate manner. Our Abuse & Criminal Injuries Department is headed by Greg Neill – Greg is a member of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers (ACAL).

For an open and friendly conversation about your situation, and to find out how we can assist you relevant to your individual experience, call 0800 888 6 888 or email

You will be given the direct-dial of your case handler, meaning that you will always be able to reach the person you need.

Sources: Mail Online; Mail Online

Manufacturing Firm Fined After Employee Suffers Multiple Fractures

A manufacturing firm has been fined following an incident in which an employee suffered injuries to both of his thighs and multiple fractures to his left leg.

Incident

In June 2013, an employee of SPS Aerostructures Limited was cleaning excess metal filings from a conveyor belt in an attempt to clear a blockage. The worker slipped and as a guard had been removed from the conveyor, he fell into the machine which was running at the time. Nottingham Crown Court heard how the employee was trapped in the machine for around 20 minutes.

HSE Investigation

The Health and Safety Executive’s investigation into the incident found that SPS Aerostructures had failed to avert access to dangerous parts of the machine. The court was told that employees would regularly access the conveyor without detaching it. The court also heard how it was easy to remove the guards, allowing access to the conveyor whilst it was still in motion.

Fines

SPS Aerostructures Limited, of Sherwood Business Park, Annesley, Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to offences under Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). The company was fined a total of £60,000 and ordered to pay costs of £11,038.

Injury at Work – Expert Advice

If you have been injured in the workplace you could be entitled to personal injury compensation. Remember, we offer you a FREE no-obligation consultation – discover today whether you have a claim. Speak to one of our professional and friendly advisers today on 0800 888 6 888 or email

Source: Health & Safety Executive

Doctor & Nurse Found Guilty of Manslaughter by Gross Negligence

In February 2011, Jack Adock, a six year old boy with Down’s syndrome, was admitted to Leicester Royal Infirmary with severe vomiting and diarrhoea. He later developed sepsis and died just 11 hours after entering the hospital, suffering a cardiac arrest.

Doctor Hadiza Bawa-Garba and an agency nurse, Isabel Amaro, have recently been sentenced for Jack’s manslaughter due to their “serious neglect”.

False Assumptions

Nottingham Crown Court heard that at the time of the incident, Dr Bawa-Garba wrongly assumed that Jack was under a ‘do-not-resuscitate’ order and consequently stopped performing CPR.

The court also heard how agency nurse Amaro had failed ‘woefully’ to monitor Jack’s treatment whilst at the hospital. The prosecution told the court that Amaro had failed to then alert colleagues when the six year old’s conditioned worsened.

In her defence, Bawa-Garba said that on the day of the incident she had worked a twelve hour shift without any breaks. Bawa-Garba also expressed that there had been a significant lack of communication on the ward that day.

Amaro accepted a breach of her duty of care; however she denied that any failings on her part had a substantial contribution to Jack’s death.

Telling the pair that their medical careers “will come to an end”, Mr Justice Nichol said:

“Jack’s life was cut short prematurely. That was a tragedy. No sentence that I pass on you will alter it.

“There was no evidence that either of you neglected Jack because you were lazy or behaved for other selfish reasons.

“You both had other patients to attend to. The problem was that neither of you gave Jack the priority which this very sick boy deserved.”

Sentencing

Dr Bawa-Garba and Ms Amaro were found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence last month. According to Mr Justice Nichol, his sentencing of the pair was affected by their personal circumstances. Bawa-Garba is the primary guardian and sole carer of her autistic five year old son, who also suffers behavioural issues, while Amara’s own psychiatric condition was taken into consideration.

A second nurse, Theresa Taylor, 55, was also involved in the boy’s care; however Taylor was cleared of the same charge.

In an impact statement, Jack’s mother Nicky spoke of her anger:

“Jack was neglected from the moment he entered the Leicester Royal Infirmary Children’s Assessment Unit.

“I will never forgive myself for taking him there. I could have cared and looked after him better than they ever did.

“It makes me so angry to think that my son could still be here today if they had done their jobs right.”

Jack’s father Vic said in a second statement:

“I wish I could forgive them but at the moment I can’t and I don’t know if I ever can.

“To hear their excuses has been so hard to bear. I had to watch my little man laid to rest.”

Fatal injury compensation claims – expert help from Hampson Hughes Solicitors

Our expert team of medical negligence solicitors is experienced in handling fatal injury compensation cases on behalf of clients grieving the tragic loss of a loved one. If you believe that the death of a loved one is linked to medical negligence, and if you wish to seek compensation, we can help. Remember, we offer you a FREE no-obligation telephone consultation.

For further information about fatal injury compensation, and to find out how our expert Medical Negligence Team can help you, call today on 0151 242 1025 or email

Source: BBC News

Three Companies Prosecuted by HSE after Worker Dies

Three separate companies have been prosecuted for safety failings following an incident in which a concrete slab fell from a lorry, killing a worker.

Incident

In January 2011, an employee of Punchards Haulage Limited (Punchards), Mr Travis Hale, was transporting four concrete panels via lorry to a construction site in Edinburgh.

Two separate companies, VTK Structures Limited (VTK) and Hanson Packed Products Limited (Hanson) were responsible for the design and the manufacture of the four panels respectively.

Mr Hale collected the panels, which had already been loaded onto a trailer, from Hanson’s yard in Derby. At this point, there were three vehicle straps that had been used to secure the panels onto the trailer. These straps had been provided by Hanson.

Not long after beginning the journey, Mr Hale was contacted and asked to ensure the load was secure. Several employees of VTK joined Mr Hale and recommended that he fit more straps onto the panels.

After untying one of the straps already in place, a concrete panel fell off the trailer. It landed on Mr Hale and killed him.

HSE Investigation & Fines

After an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), it was revealed that not enough straps had been used to ensure that the load would not move. According to the HSE, all three of the companies involved should have liaised with each other to ensure that the panels were secured in a safer way.

Punchards Haulage Limited, of Bramshall Industrial Estate, Stone Road, Bramshall, Staffordshire pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £140,000, and ordered to pay costs of £37,016.

VTK Structures Limited, of Mill Bay Lane, Horsham, West Sussex pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £140,000, and ordered to pay costs of £37,016.

Hanson Packed Products Limited (Formerly known as Hanson Building Products Limited), of Hanson House, Castle Hill, Maidenhead, pleaded guilty to an offence under Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. The company was fined £80,000, and ordered to pay costs of £37,016.

HSE Inspector Stuart Parry said after the meeting:

“Mr Hale was a devoted family man, well known in his local community, and his sudden death impacted on many lives.

“VTK and Punchards should have provided Mr Hale and other drivers with better means of securing panels, such as Toast racks or A frames. They did not do so and this failing led to the tragic death of Mr Hale.”

Injury At Work – Expert Advice

If you have been injured in the workplace you could be entitled to personal injury compensation. Remember, we offer you a FREE no-obligation consultation – discover today whether you have a claim. Speak to one of our professional and friendly advisers today on 0800 888 6 888 or email

Source: Health & Safety Executive

Firm Fined After Worker Loses Tips of Fingers

A firm that manufactures ducting for the building industry have been prosecuted following an incident in which an employee lost the tips of two fingers.

An employee of Support Systems (Nottingham) was assisting a saw operator to cut ducting with a band saw, when the saw was lowered and slices off two fingers on the worker’s right hand.

An investigation into the incident, which occurred on 4 August 2014, was carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Nottingham Magistrates’ Court was told by the HSE that workers operating the saw had removed the guard on numerous occasions for this particular job, as it was causing an obstruction.

The HSE also found that there had been insufficient training, information and supervision which meant that the band saw was used in an unsafe manner, not only on the day of the incident but also in the six weeks leading up to it.

Support Systems (Nottingham) Limited, of Nottingham Road, Attenborough, Nottingham pleaded guilty to an offence under Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). The company was fined a total of £3,500 and ordered to pay £2,336 in costs.

HSE inspector Lindsay Bentley said after the hearing:

“This incident was entirely avoidable, had the defendant ensured that access to dangerous parts was prevented.”

Injury at Work – Expert Advice

If you have been injured in the workplace you could be entitled to personal injury compensation. Remember, we offer you a FREE no-obligation consultation – discover today whether you have a claim. Speak to one of our professional and friendly advisers today on 0800 888 6 888 or email

Source: Health & Safety Executive

Site Manager Fined After Worker is Injured at Height

The manager of a construction site has been fined for safety breaches following an incident in which a worker was injured on site.

A worker suffered a number of strain injuries whilst attempting to cut a protruding piece of steel at height from a house build. St Albans Magistrates’ Court heard that site manager Edwin Heaney used an excavator to raise the worker, who was operating a handheld grinder; however he left the machine unattended. Whilst Mr Heaney was elsewhere, the bucket of the excavator jerked downwards throwing the worker off balance. The court heard how the worker threw the grinder out of harm’s way quickly and managed to grab hold of a nearby wall, preventing a fall. A colleague provided a ladder for the worker to climb down to ground level.

An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found that the excavator was not appropriate equipment for carrying the worker and that the bucket attachment of the machine was not a suitable platform to work from. Furthermore, the inspector found that Mr Heaney had ‘failed to take reasonable care for the health and safety of others’.

After being found guilty of breaching Section 7(a) of the Health and Safety at Work Act, Edwin Heaney, 43, of How Wood, Park Street, Hertfordshire was fined a total of £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,130.

Injury at Work – Expert Advice

If you have been injured in the workplace you could be entitled to personal injury compensation. Remember, we offer you a FREE no-obligation consultation – discover today whether you have a claim. Speak to one of our professional and friendly advisers today on 0800 888 6 888 or email

Source: Health & Safety Executive

Worker Suffers Life-Changing Injuries After 9 Meter Fall

Bristol based scaffold firm Tubular Access Scaffolds Limited has been fined after a worker suffered serious injuries after falling from height.

An employee of the firm suffered life-changing injuries after he fell nine meters whilst dismantling a scaffold structure.

Following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), it was revealed that no preventative measures had been taken by Tubular Access Scaffolds Limited prior to the incident.

After pleading guilty to offences under the Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, the company was fined a total of £26,250.

HSE principal inspector, Helena Tinton, said after the hearing:

“If the company had managed a safe system of work with properly trained and equipped scaffolders, then the employee would not have suffered such terrible injuries.”

Source: Health & Safety Executive

UK Tourists Left Stranded in ‘Filthy’ Sharm el-Sheikh Hotels

Hundreds of the British holidaymakers left stranded in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh have reported having to stay in “filthy” hotels whilst they awaited flights home.

Some 20,000 British tourists were left stranded in the area, unable to fly home for days after their scheduled flights, after a Russian tourist plane crashed in the Sinai Peninsula.

A number of travellers from the UK have claimed that whilst stuck in Sharm el-Sheikh, they were moved to other hotels before catching a new flight home. However, there have been reports that the hotels used to temporarily accommodate stranded tourists were “cockroach infested” with “flies all over the food”.

The hygiene standards of such hotels led to guests refusing to eat the food served, ordering take away and fast food instead. A holiday rep reportedly warned one guest, “I wouldn’t eat the food if I were you”.

Other British holidaymakers also claimed they had been exposed to bed bugs, suffering from suspected bites, whilst residing at hotels in the Sharm el Sheikh area.

Shiamli Mehta-Cronie, Head of Travel Law at Hampson Hughes Solicitors, commented:

“I am shocked by the reports of holidaymakers being exposed to poor hygiene conditions while being placed at hotels in Sharm el Sheikh.

“Deficiencies in hygiene standards breed infection and cause outbreaks of illness causing symptoms of sickness, stomach cramps, diarrhoea and dehydration.

“In what was already an extremely distressing situation, the well-being of holidaymakers should have been of paramount to concern to holiday tour operators but unfortunately, this does not appear to be the case.

“I would encourage anyone who has fallen ill whilst on a package holiday in Sharm el Sheikh to contact our dedicated holiday illness claims team for expert and friendly advice on whether they may be able to make a successful no win no fee claim for compensation.”

Illness Abroad – Expert Advice

If you have contracted an illness due to poor hotel and resort hygiene standards while on a package holiday in Sharm el-Sheikh, you may be able to claim compensation.

If you would like expert advice on this type of case, contact Hampson Hughes Solicitors today on 0800 888 6 888 or email

Source: Daily Mail; HIC

Holiday Makers Fall Ill at Resort in Boa Vista, Cape Verde

British holidaymakers have recently contacted Hampson Hughes Solicitors to seek compensation after they were struck down with severe bouts of food poisoning and gastric illness which left them bedbound whilst holidaying at a resort in Boa Vista, Cape Verde.

Dream Holiday ‘Ruined’

The unfortunate guests looked forward to a dream holiday at a resort which is advertised as a five star Platinum resort.

However, one week into their so called dream holiday, “stomach cramps and terrible diarrhoea” struck.

The holiday was consequently ‘ruined’, with one client reporting that their suffering lasted over a month. The client required medical attention both on resort and upon their return home.

Unfortunately our clients are not alone, they report that during their stay a large proportion of guests became unwell and unable to leave resort due to suspected poor sanitation.

Further Negative Online Reviews

The luxury resort has also received negative attention from other holidaymakers via popular travel review website TripAdvisor. One holidaymaker reported:

“A lot of people were very poorly. For 11 days I was virtually confined to my room with very severe diarrhoea. A trip to the doctor cost me 110 Euros. Caught a glance of a list on her desk of the guests and staff she had saw for the same problems. Unbelievable.”

The same guest went on to state:

“Maids were seen going into rooms of people who were ill, with full protective gear on to disinfect. If we could have got a flight home during the 1st week, we would have. Reported illness to the rep but she wasn’t really very sympathetic saying they had been ill too.”

Other guests added:

“Go at your peril – you have been warned.”

“Very disappointed… Don’t waste your money here. More like a 2 star hotel at most.”

Shiamli Mehta-Cronie, Head of Travel Law at Hampson Hughes Solicitors, commented:

“I am alarmed by the reports from holidaymakers at the resort in Boa Vista, Cape Verde.

“I was alerted of cases of illness at this hotel just a matter of days ago and shocked to read reports of further holidays being ruined.

“I would advise those affected by illness whilst on holiday in Boa Vista to seek expert legal advice as they may be eligible to claim compensation.”

Holiday Illness Claims – Expert Advice

If you have suffered from an illness due to poor hotel and resort hygiene standards while on a package holiday and you would like expert advice on this type of case, contact Hampson Hughes Solicitors today on 0800 888 6888 or email

Source: TripAdvisor