Father Jailed for 12 Months After Son's Fatal Farm Vehicle Accident

Neil Speakman admitted to health and safety violations after his three-year-old son, Albie, was fatally struck by a telehandler on their family farm in 2022.

• Neil Speakman, 39, was sentenced to one year in prison for breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act following the death of his son, Albie, on their farm in Bury, Greater Manchester.
• The incident occurred in July 2022 when Albie wandered into the yard as Speakman operated a telehandler with several defects, including a missing wing mirror.
• Speakman was cleared of gross negligence manslaughter earlier this month but admitted to failing to ensure his son's safety while working on the farm.
• The court heard that Speakman lacked proper training to operate the telehandler and that Albie had been left to play in an unsecured garden area near the yard.
• Albie’s mother, Leah Bridge, shared a heartfelt victim impact statement, describing her son as a loving and affectionate child whose loss has left her family devastated.

3 Articles

Metro The Independent The Independent