A waste management company has been found guilty of health and safety offences over the death of a young road cleaner.

Damian Griffiths was picking up litter a grass verge on a busy dual carriageway on the A228 at Hale Street, East Peckham, when he was hit by a van.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the 20-year-old, of Northview, Swanley, was an agency worker for Veolia Environmental Services UK Ltd.

Deanna Heer, prosecuting, said Veolia had been contracted to provide street cleaning services by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council since March 2005.

The company had received a default notice by the council, complaining litter picking had not been carried out properly on the stretch of the A228.

Veolia sent Mr Griffiths and Barry Seymour to clean up the area before the tragedy happened on the morning of March 2, 2007.

Veolia, of Pentonville Road, Islington, North London, denied failing to ensure the health and safety and welfare of employees and exposing another to the risk of health and safety.

The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts and Judge Philip Statman adjourned sentence until September 2.

Find out more in this week's Dartford Messenger.