Lee Warburton Tragedy: Firm Fined £1 Million After Dad Crushed by Reversing Lorry
A major UK wholesaler has been slapped with a £1 million fine after the death of Lee Warburton, a father-of-three from Stockport who was fatally crushed by a reversing lorry during a delivery in Manchester city centre.
Lee Warburton, 53, had been working as a banksman for Bestway Northern Ltd when the horror incident unfolded at City Towers, New York Street, on 19 February 2019.
He was helping direct a colleague as they reversed an HGV into a loading bay. In a tragic turn of events, Lee became trapped between the lorry and a wall, sustaining fatal crush injuries that proved impossible to survive.
His partner, Hayley Tomlinson, has since opened up about the devastating moment their lives were shattered.
“To be taken in such a cruel manner made it even harder,” she said. Knowing the pain and fear Lee must have gone through was unbearable. But nothing compares to the moment I had to tell our children their daddy was never coming home.”
She recalled the heartbreaking fallout for their daughters, just nine and ten at the time. The trauma has led to mental health struggles, including bullying and isolation at school.
“It broke my children’s spirits; they lost the sparkle in their eyes,” she said. “Lee was their hero.”
“My children will miss out on all the milestones Lee should have been here for, walking them down the aisle, meeting their first child. They miss the cuddles, the love he showed them, the days out. This has changed our lives forever.”
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed disturbing failings by the company. There was no safe system in place for vehicle movements. Risk assessments were lacking. Staff, like Lee, hadn’t received proper training to safely carry out banksman duties.
“The company had failed to implement a safe system of work for its delivery and unloading activities, thereby exposing employees and others to the risk of being struck or caught by workplace vehicles,” said HSE inspector Jane Carroll.
She added that nearly a quarter of workplace transport deaths happen while reversing, many of which are easily preventable.
“All work settings involving vehicles need to consider the risks arising from their use and implement adequate measures to ensure the safety of those involved in these activities.”
In court this week, Bestway Northern Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety laws under the Health and Safety at Work Act
Magistrates at Manchester Court handed down a £1 million fine and ordered the firm to pay £11,950 in costs. The company is based on Abbey Road, Park Royal, London.
Lee, a passionate music lover and Manchester City supporter, was described as a family man who doted on his children, Tom, Amy, and Katie. On that fateful day, he had been riding with colleague Sim Biri-Biri Plis, who was behind the wheel of the Mercedes HGV.
Mr Biri-Biri Plis gave emotional testimony during an inquest held in 2022. He spoke of their friendship and Lee’s final moments. “He was like my family in the workplace, you know,” he told the jury.
“The last signal I received from Mr Lee was to keep going,” he said. “This is what I did at the time.”
Believing Lee had stepped away to speak with someone, the driver continued reversing until he realised something was terribly wrong.
This tragic case underscores the real-world consequences of inadequate safety procedures. A beloved father is gone. His children will grow up without him. And a company is now paying the price for a lapse that should never have happened.
