Ling Metals in Parham Road, Canterbury, where Darren Baker died in an industrial accident in 2007. Picture: Chris Davey.

by Joe Walker

The family of a man crushed by a forklift truck bucket say his death has torn their lives apart.

The father and son of Darren Baker were speaking after scrap metal firm Ling Metals were fined £200,000 for failing to prevent his death.

Dad-of-three Darren, from Thanington, died in 2007 after a one-ton bucket full of crumbled rubber fell on his head.

The machine's health and safety certificate had expired and Ling Metals had ignored warnings from an engineer four days before.

Brother Stuart, 36, said: "Our lives have been torn apart. I've seen my father and mother in pieces for the last three years and I've had a nervous breakdown.

"Darren's daughter Lily was just nine months old when he died - just a baby.

"He'd always wanted a little girl but now she has to grow up without a daddy.

"But still justice hasn't been done. Someone should be held accountable for causing my brother's death.

"If your car failed an MOT but you still went out and drove it and ended up killing someone, you'd be going to prison for a very long time.

"What's the difference here? It's absolutely disgusting."

Canterbury Crown Court heard Darren had been helping lay a surface for an outdoor riding area in Minster on March 19, 2007.

The bucket came down on his head after machine driver Gavin Lucas failed to use stabilisers to move a load of crumbled rubber and the forklift toppled over.

A safety alarm which should have warned Mr Lucas of the impending danger wasn't working.

Darren was airlifted to hospital but died two days later. The machine was used again before being checked or serviced.

A certificate of thorough examination had expired the previous month and the machine was in such a bad state an engineer was unable to complete repair work.

Ling Metals director Robin Ling was in court on Friday as the company was given six months to pay £200,000 in fines and £11,384 costs.

The firm had earlier admitted four offences of being in breach of general duty to an employer.

It was the second time the company had been in court following a death, having been fined £30,000 after a man was killed in 2002 after roof beams collapsed and crushed him.

Darren's dad John said: "How have they been allowed to get away with this twice?

"Once was once too much, but who knows how many more families are going to have to go through what we've been through.

"This machine should never have been used. It should have been immediately immobilised until it was ruled safe.

"The fact they ignored all the warnings disgusts me. The sentence they've received is not enough.

"They'll have it paid in six months and be able to move on with their lives, while we have to live with what's happened for the rest of ours.

"I don't think we'll ever come to terms with what's happened. I can't even look at pictures of Darren because it makes me too upset."

Darren leaves behind daughter Lily, four, and sons Aiden, 12, and Craig, 15.

His family have been financially compensated by Ling Metals.