Wolverhampton waste boss jailed after death of worker in shredder
Brian Timmins was found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter.
The boss of waste company in Wolverhampton has been sentenced to 7 and a half years in prison after one of his workers fell into a shredder, and was never found.
David Willis, 29, fell into the machine at Timmins Waste Services (TWM) on 15 September 2018.
Brian Timmins had been using the shredder, which is designed for wood and commercial waste, when it suddenly stopped working. He then lifted Mr Willis up on a JCB grapple arm to identify the source of a blockage.
The machine should have been switched off when Willis went to inspect a blockage in it, but was, in fact, still ejecting material. Mr Willis went into the shredder and was never found.
Timmins continued using the shredder, meaning waste covered Mr Willis' remains.
Mr Willis' mother reported him missing that night when he failed to return home from work.
Police reviewed CCTV after his coat was found near the shredder, leading detectives to find he had fallen into the shredder.
Jurors at Wolverhampton Crown Court found Timmins guilty of gross negligence manslaughter.
TWS was found guilty of corporate manslaughter. Both Timmins and TWS have previously admitted health and safety charges.
Today (15 December), Timmins, 54, of Fair Lawn, Albrighton, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years.
TMS was fined £400,000 and ordered to pay costs totalling £31,690.33.