Tamworth Borough Council has successfully prosecuted former White Lion pub landlord for health and safety breaches which caused a customer to fall down cellar stairs on the 6 March 2022, causing injuries requiring surgery.

The case against Mr Russell Thomas, 57, of Ashby Road, No Mans Heath, Tamworth was heard at Newcastle-Under-Lyme Magistrates’ Court on Monday 3 April 2023.

Thomas pleaded guilty to all charges and was ordered by Magistrates to pay a fine of £384 and costs of £1733.41.

The court heard how, Thomas exposed customers and employees to the risk of falling through an un-locked, un-marked door down to the cellar. Thomas also failed to carry out appropriate risk assessments to avoid the serious incident like the one that occurred May 2022 or to make sure employees were provided with adequate health and safety training.

The incident occurred at the White Lion Public House, Aldergate, Tamworth. Thomas did however quickly comply with notices serviced by Tamworth Borough Council officers investigating the alleged health and safety breaches. The cellar door now has a lock installed to prevent further incidents.

Thomas is no longer the White Lion landlord or working in the business.

In deciding the level of fine, Magistrates noted the action Thomas had taken to make the premises safe following inspections by Tamworth Borough Council.

Andrew Barratt, Chief Executive Tamworth Borough Council said:

“As soon as we were aware of health and safety breaches we acted to make the business safe, taking all steps available to us within the law.

“In this case, we made the decision to prosecute as the failure in basic health and safety regulations led to a serious incident.

“We’d encourage all businesses to take the time to make sure their premises are safe, to thoroughly review health and safety training for staff and review all risk assessments. We will not hesitate to take action where people are at risk."