Thieves have stolen scaffolding from outside a Shropshire village church undergoing repairs. Police believe villagers from Stanton Lacy, near Ludlow will have spotted the thieves dismantling the scaffolding believing they were the genuine workmen. Police Constable Antony Baker, the investigating officer, said: “A large quantity of scaffolding together with planks, brackets and ladders, has been stolen from St Peter’s Church, Stanton Lacy. “It had been erected to the side of the church for repairs to the roof and was disassembled between 9.30pm last Friday and 8am on Monday. It took two men two days to put up, so the thieves would have been at work for some considerable time. “Local residents or visitors to the village may well have seen this theft happening without realising a crime was taking place. I would urge witnesses or anyone with information about those responsible, to contact Ludlow police station on 0300-333-3000.” PC Baker added that some kind of lorry or large van would have been needed to carry the items. “The thieves would also have had some knowledge on how to dismantle the scaffolding and how long it would take. At least two people are likely to have been involved.” Information can also be given to the anonymous Crimestoppers number, 0800-555-111.

Via www.shropshirelive.com

A scaffolder who only discovered he was a father 13 years after his son was born has been hauled before the courts to face allegations he owes more than £34,000 in child support. Scaffolder Adrian Haddon, 37, of Thornton Blackpool, who works for a local scaffolding firm was shocked when he was arrested by Lancashire Police on orders by authorities in Canada where his son lives. They claim he owes £34,402 in child support from 16 years ago. Adrian who was a soldier in The Royal Engineers in Canada in 1994 where he met his sons mother, He said “I was shocked” “I never refused to pay. I wouldn’t refuse it. I just didn’t know he was mine” “I went back in 1995 and bumped into her. I saw she had a baby but i didn’t know he was mine until a DNA test 3 years ago. Adrian is now trying to build a relationship with his son who lives in Alberta Canada. He said “Ive spoken to him on the phone, he wants us to have contact and hopes one day we will meet each other”. Blackpool magistrates agreed to bail Adrian pending his appearance before a family court next week.

Written by Daniel Norton

A MAN was paid £30,000 in incapacity and other benefits claiming he was unfit for work while he had jobs in the scaffolding trade. Leeds Crown Court heard during the period he was claiming disability allowances Adam Routh did work for 12 different employers. He began claiming income support legitimately in October 2002 and received incapacity and disability living allowance from the following year after reporting he was suffering from epilepsy, depression and osteo-arthritis. But it was made clear to him should his situation improve and he could work he should declare that, Diana Maudslay prosecuting told the court yesterday. He notified authorities of a change of address in 2009 but otherwise continued to claim as before. When he was questioned in 2009 about his dishonesty he said he never did physical work himself in the scaffolding jobs but acted as a supervisor telling others what to do. He said he held a health and safety certificate which meant he could oversee sites and train others. He also said to be able to go out to work he had to dose himself on morphine and methadone to which he was addicted. Lyndsey Lobley for Routh said he was an experienced scaffolder before his health problems and was approached to act as a kind of foreman on one job. He had intended to tell the authorities but the contract ended before he did so and in others he had to leave when it appeared physical work was needed. Routh, 46 of Garton Terrace, Leeds was jailed for 18 months after he admitted four offences of benefit fraud. Sentencing him, Judge Alastair McCallum said “You effectively were stealing from the community when you were in well paid employment. Many people in this country would have been delighted to be earning the sort of figures you were.” Via: Yorkshire Post

A Hastings scaffolder has today been fined for endangering himself and others after working on a four-storey scaffold with no harness. Hastings Magistrates’ Court heard Gareth Roser was spotted by a passing Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector working without a harness at the building in East Parade, Hastings, on 14 October 2010. The court was told when the inspector initially saw Mr Roser, who was contracting for Battle-based Giant Scaffolding Ltd, he was approximately eight metres in the air, balancing on scaffolding tubes. However, it emerged that harnesses were available for the workers to use in their van. Well-established industry guidance requires scaffolders to wear and use a fall arrest harness when more than four metres above ground without a safe platform to stand on and edge protection in place. Mr Roser, a self-employed scaffolder from St Mary’s Terrace, Hastings, was fined £750 and ordered to pay £643 in costs after admitting a breach of Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The court was also told that Giant Scaffolding had repeatedly failed to reply to written questions put to them by the inspector despite a number of warnings. Giant Scaffolding Ltd, of Ringletts Farm, Whatlington Road, Battle, pleaded guilty to a breach of Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and a breach of Section 20(2)(j) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined at total of £15,000 with costs of £5,000. Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector, Melvyn Stancliffe, said: “The simple measure of wearing a harness can save scaffolders from death or serious injury. A basic common sense approach to work is all that’s needed to prevent a possible tragedy. “In many cases, harnesses are available but some workmen just cannot be bothered to wear them. They should take a moment to think about the consequences. “It was reckless for Mr Roser to be working in this way. He was exposing himself and members of the public walking below to unnecessary risk. He was seen working in 2008 in similar circumstances and was warned about his future conduct. “Giant Scaffolding Ltd has also been warned about the dangerous working practices of those working for it. “These prosecutions show that HSE will not tolerate poor working practices and will take firm action against individuals and contractors who ignore their health and safety obligations.” Via: HSE