Farmer jailed after girl helper dragged to death in dangerous machine
A FARMER who caused the horrific death of a young volunteer by failing to replace a £75 cover on a Second World War- era milling machine has been jailed.
Lauren Scott, 20, was spun violently and flayed alive when her hair and clothes became entangled in the drive shaft of the equipment.
A court heard that a plastic sleeve which should have covered the spinning shaft was broken, leaving parts exposed. It would have cost the tiny amount to replace.
Neil Carpenter, 45, was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence and sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail after he oversaw ‘appalling’ safety standards.
Exeter Crown Court heard how he lied about what had happened and was brought to justice only after video footage was discovered on Miss Scott’s phone. It showed Carpenter starting up a tractor which powered the 1940s milling machine’s drive shaft – known as a power take off or PTO – 28 minutes before she died.
The farmer had told investigators he had been bedding down some pigs at the time of the accident, but prosecutors said the video was proof he used the mill that day.
Mr Justice Dingemans said it was clear Carpenter had started operating the mill and Miss Scott had taken over ‘in her normal helpful way’.
The five-day trial had heard Miss Scott was an animallover who often volunteered to help out at Carpenter’s tenacre Springfield Farm in Dawlish, Devon, a few miles from her home in Kenton.
In the tragedy on March 4 last year she was scalped and had her clothes ripped off after getting caught in the shaft, which spun at 540 times a minute. Prosecutor David Sapiecha said the effect would have been ‘instantaneous and catastrophic’.
Health and Safety Executive inspector Simon Jones said: ‘The guarding on this PTO was utterly appalling.’
Carpenter also admitted two health and safety offences and will serve eight months concurrently for those offences.
After the sentencing, Detective Inspector Steve Davies, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: ‘Neil Carpenter ran his farm with a complete disrespect for safety which ultimately cost the life of Lauren Scott.’ Miss Scott’s brother Ben said: ‘The presence of a £75 PTO cover would have ensured Lauren would still be with us today.’