A Mid-Wales estate agent has been fined after an elderly maintenance contractor was killed when he fell from a roof.

Roger Jary, 79, from Welshpool was a self-employed contractor of Morris, Marshall & Poole estate agents, and was carrying out minor repairs to the carport and gutter of a rented bungalow on Little Henfaes Drive in the town.

Chester Crown Court heard that, on 10 August 2010, a plastic roof panel Mr Jary was moving across gave way and he fell around two metres from the roof of the carport to the ground below.


A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found Morris, Marshall & Poole contracted Mr Jary to carry out the repair work, but failed to ensure the work was properly planned and organised, or the contractor was competent to carry out the work.

Morris, Marshall & Poole of 28 Broad Street, Welshpool, who managed the property on behalf of the landlord, were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). They pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and were today fined £75,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £11,153.95.

(CD)