Eastbourne Pier death: Three admit health and safety charges
Stephen Penrice, who was 44 and from Cumbria, fell to his death while working on repairing part of the seafront landmark in August 2014 – just weeks after the fire which destroyed the famous Blue Room arcade, the entrance and a number of shops.
Michael Hawkins, 37, from Cumbria, and Paul Dixon, 53, from Lancashire, were both charged with gross negligence manslaughter in cionnection with Mr Penrice’s death and the company involved in the rebuilding project, MPM (North West) Ltd, also faced charges.
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Hide AdAfter entering not guilty pleas, a trial began at Brighton earlier this year and was expected to last at least seven weeks.
But this week the trial collapsed.
A spokesperson at the Crown Prosecution Service, which brought the case, said, “The judge directed acquittal on the two gross negligence manslaughter charges in relation to Mr Hawkins and Mr Dixon. The three accused all pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of failing to discharge a duty under the Health & Safety at Work Act.”
The three will return to court on Friday March 19 for sentencing.