Firms admit safety offences after deaths of workers

Two companies have admitted health and safety offences following the deaths of two pest controllers at a chicken factory.

The bodies of Neil Moon, 49, and Jonathan Collins, 34, were discovered at Banham Poultry in Attleborough, Norfolk, in October 2018.

Banham Poultry Limited and Air Products plc were due to stand trial at Norwich Crown Court charged with corporate manslaughter.

But before a jury was sworn in the companies pleaded guilty to health and safety offences, which prosecutors deemed acceptable.

Craig Hassall KC, prosecuting, said the pleas were on the basis that the "breaches were causative of the deaths of Mr Moon and Mr Collins".

He said that at the point of sentence he would invite the judge, Mrs Justice Judith Farbey, to formally record verdicts of not guilty to the corporate manslaughter charges.

The companies are due to be sentenced at a two-day hearing from 31 March.

Barrister Shauna Ritchie, representing Banham Poultry Limited, entered guilty pleas on behalf of the company to two counts of failing to discharge a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Barrister Simon Antrobus KC, for Air Products plc, entered a guilty plea on behalf of the company to one count of the same offence.

The legal representatives for the companies each entered pleas of not guilty to two charges of corporate manslaughter in respect of Moon and Collins.

Hassall said the Crown Prosecution Service's decision to accept the pleas was made "following consultation with the family" and Norfolk Police.

No details about the case were given at Wednesday's hearing.

Norfolk Police said at the time of the incident that a possible refrigeration gas leak was being investigated.

Moon and Collins were found dead at about 01:10 BST on 4 October 2018. They had been working at the Station Road site as pest-control subcontractors.

A Banham Poultry spokesperson said at the time: "We are deeply saddened and send our deepest condolences to their family and friends."

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.