Bungling builder lands firm with £12k bill after Wolverhampton house collapse
A?bungling?builder who caused part of a house to collapse into a trench he had dug next door has landed his firm with a £12,000 court bill.
A judge labelled the series of events 'potentially catastrophic' as he ordered Wolverhampton-based Astbury Design and Build to pay up.
Wolverhampton magistrates heard the dramatic scene unravelled in February last year in Blackburn Avenue, Claregate.
Former marine Paul Astbury – the sole employee of Astbury Design and Build – was working on foundations at number 71.
However the trench he dug to be filled with concrete was at a lower level than at number 69 and overnight that house slipped into it.
Fortunately no one was in number 69 at the time, but a third of the house had to be demolished after an upstairs bedroom and garage collapsed.
Astbury represented the company in court.
On behalf of Astbury Design and Build he pleaded guilty to failing to conduct excavations at 71 Blackburn Avenue, in such a way that residents at 69 and 71 were not exposed to risks under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Prosecutor Mr Gareth Langston said: "The tenant at the property moved out and the owner has had to have it substantially repaired and rebuilt."
Civil proceedings between the owner of number 69 and the company are ongoing.
The court was told Astbury was 'mortified' by what had happened. Miss Sarah Froggatt, defending, said he felt morally responsible for the damage. "He feels he has a moral obligation to put right what went wrong that day in February," she said.
