POOR management led to the death of a cement-delivery lorry driver who fell into a mixer while cleaning it, a court was told.

The Health and Safety Executive brought a prosecution against Hanson Aggregates after the death of 39-year-old Andrew Finan at the company's Addington depot, in November 2001.

At Maidstone Magistrates' Court, Hanson Aggregates pleaded guilty to the charge of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act in failing to ensure the health and safety of its employee.

Caroline Knight, prosecuting, said: "There was no financial motive, no cost-cutting motive involved in the shortcomings identified but, nonetheless, very serious shortcomings have been identified.

"There was inadequate supervision of the process in question. It was poor management."

The court heard that Mr Finan, of Bexon Lane, Bredgar, near Sittingbourne, fell into the lorry's mixing compartment because grills covering it had been removed or tampered with.

Asking magistrates to commit the case to Crown Court for sentencing, Miss Knight said: "The public interest demands that cases like this, involving a fatality, should be seen to be dealt with by the superior court."

Philip Tracey, representing the company, said: "I'd like to apologise to the family of Mr Finan on behalf of Hanson. My client is fully aware and recognises the seriousness of the offence. Steps have been taken to prevent a re-occurrence."

Magistrates committed the case to the Crown Court for sentencing, with a date to be set.