THE parents of a boy crushed by a gate have spoken of their grief after the Hampshire manufacturer was fined £80,000.
Nine-year-old Jason Keet suffered horrific injuries when his head was crushed by electric gates outside his grandparents’ flat in Poole.
Romsey based Faulkner Gates Ltd was yesterday fined after admitting health and safety breaches.
Jason’s grieving parents, Samantha Whittle and Bryan Keet, paid moving tributes to their son and told of the devastating effect his death has had on their lives.
“To my horror I saw Jason killed,” said Mrs Whittle.
“I have an ache in my heart that never goes away. When you watch the child that you have loved, cared for, cuddled and nurtured for nine-and-ahalf years dying in front of you, part of you dies too.”
Fighting back the tears she later added: “It’s something that you relive. It doesn’t get any easier but it changes.
Jason was very very special.
He was our baby. He will always be our baby.”
Bournemouth Crown Court heard how Jason had reached between an entrance gate and a pillar to press a button. But as the gates opened he became trapped and later died.
Passing sentence Judge John Harrow described it as “a tragic case” that would “affect all those involved for a very long time”.
He said: “It is impossible to put a figure on a little boy’s life or put a figure on the parents’ loss. In my view the gap was one of the significant causes of the accident.”
Mr Keet said that the family was “relieved that after nearly four years the case has finally reached a conclusion”.
He added: “We hope this terrible accident provokes closer inspection and regulation of all electric gates and their controls so no other family has to endure the pain we have gone through.”
Faulkner Gates was also ordered to pay £40,000 costs.
Two other companies, Pearlview Estates Ltd and gate installer Electric Gate Services Ltd, charged in connection with the incident were found not guilty by a jury last month.
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