Fragile Roof Death Wholly Avoidable says Judge

LESLIE Bennion’s death as a result of falling through a fragile roof was wholly avoidable according to the judge hearing the case.

Leslie Bennion, 61, died after falling through the roof of the former Welsh Country Foods premises in Gaerwen, Anglesey, north Wales.

The incident on 24 January 2018, was judged a “wholly avoidable” tragedy by His Honour Timothy Petts.

Mold Crown Court heard on 30 April 2025 that Camclad Contractors Ltd and director Dominic Lakeman-Pettit, employing Leslie Bennion, had shown “remarkable” health and safety failings in the lead up to the tragedy.

Fragile Roof Death

Dominic Lakeman-Pettit, 34, had hired a 45ft cherry picker for Leslie Bennion and another worker, to replace roof panels on the building. He had enquired about hiring a longer, more suitable MEWP of 60ft but was told it wasn’t obtainable until Thursday, later that week.

The director decided not to wait for the 60ft cherry picker, instead opting for the lower 45ft lift. But the MEWP wasn’t long enough to reach areas of the fragile roof.

The men performed the work on the Wednesday that led to Leslie Bennion’s death. It was just one day before the correct equipment became available.

A risk assessment method statement (RAMS) had been written and referred to fall prevention nets under the roof being installed. However, prosecutor, Craig Morris alleged there was “never any intention to install nets”. He added the RAMS was “little more than a meaningless piece of paper”.

The prosecutor added that no-one at Camclad Contractors Ltd had used a tape measure, a handheld laser device or even drawings to measure the building’s dimensions to help select a suitable cherry picker so fell “far below” industry standards in this case.

On the day of the fatal fall, Leslie Bennion and his co-worker had replaced broken panels over a loading bay and another area. When they moved onto the higher roof structure, they found their MEWP was “15ft short”, the prosecutor said.

Both men stepped out of the platform basket to complete the job.

But the other worker, who has a false leg, “did not feel able to give himself a secure position to fit the last panel” so the men swapped positions. His co-worker said Leslie Bennion thought he was standing on a steel joist.

He moved and slipped, falling more than 20ft to the ground below.

Director Sentenced

Both the company, Camclad Contractors Ltd, and director Lakeman-Pettit, admitted breaching health and safety regulations.

Camclad, of Wyboston in Bedfordshire, was fined £225,000. Dominic Lakeman-Pettit was sentenced to a 4 month jail term suspended for 12 months with 200 hours of community work.

The judge said the sentences are based on guidelines and do not reflect the value of Leslie Bennion’s life.

Cameron Crowe KC, defending Camclad and Dominic Lakeman-Pettit, said the director “genuinely believed” the MEWP would reach the roof. He added that Dominic Lakeman-Pettit had joined his father’s firm Camclad Building Services in 2006 and been “supervised and mentored” by Leslie Bennion, who worked for the company as a self-employed subcontractor.

The defendant’s barrister said Dominic Lakeman-Pettit, who was 26 at the time of the accident, mourns the loss of his mentor Leslie Bennion.

“His remorse is tangible and sincere accompanied by grief he is yet to properly deal with,” he said.

The court heard the director was relying on his two workers to ring him if they thought the MEWP was insufficient for the job, which the judge said was “inadequate”.

The company has a turnover of around £6.5 million and employs 11 people.

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