Golf company director sentenced after ball collector drowned in lake

A golf company director has been sentenced today to two years and eight months in prison after a ball collector drowned in a lake.

Father-of-one Gareth Pugh, 29, died on 11 February 2016 while collecting golf balls at Peterstone Lake Golf Course near Newport.

Dale Pike, of Boss Golf Balls, pleaded guilty to manslaughter by gross negligence at Cardiff Crown Court in May and was sentenced today. He will serve half of his sentence in custody and will be released on licence.

The court heard how Pike had agreed to pay Gareth to retrieve balls from the lake but the measures in place to ensure his safety were inadequate.