Men sentenced three years after death of father-of-five on building site

Two men have been sentenced to a total of five years following the death of a father-of-five at a building site in Northamptonshire nearly three years ago.

Andrew Winterton and Dean Wortley appeared at Northampton Crown Court today following a nine-week trial which ended earlier this month.

Shane Wilkinson, aged 33, formerly of Victory Gardens, Crowlands, Peterborough, died when an unsecured trench wall collapsed on top of him at a building site in Collyweston.

Despite the best efforts of fellow workers, he was pronounced dead at the scene after his body was recovered.

Site manager and director of Conquest Homes, Winterton aged 52, of High Street, Collyweston, was convicted of gross negligence manslaughter and sentenced to four years in jail. He was also ordered to pay costs of £90,500.

Wortley, aged 48, of Market Deeping, Lincolnshire, who traded as Clearview Demolition, was convicted of a failure as a self-employed person to discharge his duty to ensure the health and safety of persons not in his employment.

He was also found guilty of failing to take all practicable steps to prevent danger.

He was given a 12 month sentence and ordered to pay £20,000 towards costs.