The mum of a three-year-old boy who was killed after being run over by a tractor has broken her silence after her ex-partner, also the father of the little boy, who was driving – was found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter.
The tragic incident took place at a yard next to a small garden area at the front of a farmhouse on Bentley Hall Road, Walshaw. Albie Speakman would stay at the farm on alternate weekends, and was dropped off by his mum, Leah Bridge, in the morning of July 16, jurors were told.
A few minutes before the tragic incident the father, Neil Speakman, had left Albie to play with their two pet dogs, the court heard. While Mr Speakman, 39, had used the Kramer telehandler before, he was not officially trained, the trial heard. The machine had various defects, including a missing wing mirror.
After discovering he had reversed into Albie, Mr Speakman ran into the house and asked his partner to call an ambulance, the trial heard. They decided to make their way to hospital and on the way flagged down a passing ambulance, where Albie was attended to by paramedics. They were unable to resuscitate him and he was pronounced dead that afternoon at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. A post mortem report showed that he had suffered ‘multiple crush injuries’ to his head, body and legs.
The prosecution told jurors at the Minshull Street Crown Court trial Albie died ‘as a result of his father’s negligence, which created a serious and obvious risk of death’.
The telehandler was later inspected by health and safety officials, who the court heard found its various defects would have hindered safe operation. Their report concluded it was ‘foreseeable that persons in the vicinity of the vehicle could be injured or killed when the vehicle was working’.
“The operator would have had a restricted view of a person in certain positions near to the rear of the vehicle, more so a person of less than average height,” the inspection report added.
His heartbroken mother, Leah Bridge, who was in court and visibly upset when the verdict was delivered, said she would be ‘forever broken’, reports the M.E.N.
Ms Bridge, who separated from Mr Speakman shortly after Albie was born, posted on Instagram: “My perfect little sunshine boy, I am so unbelievably sorry. I just can’t comprehend what has happened. I will forever remain broken. I will forever remain without you. The world is a very unjust place to live, and I feel numb. Our story will soon be told Albie. I love you endlessly my sunshine boy. Until we meet again, your tiny heart can rest in much more peace than you ever experienced on this earth.”
Mr Speakman will be sentenced for breaching a section of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at a later date. A pre-sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 28.
