Construction union UCATT have welcomed the sentencing in the Old Bailey of Colin Holtom who was sentenced to three years for the manslaughter of Adam Gosling.

Mr Gosling was just 15 when he was killed when a wall he was demolishing collapsed on top of him.

UCATT have warned that due to the rarity of a prison sentence following the death of a construction worker the sentence should not detract from moves to introduce statutory director’s duties.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "This was a tragic case. Adam Gosling should never have even been on a construction site. The case illustrates everything which is wrong with the casualised construction industry."

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In recent weeks both the Donaghy Report into construction fatalities and the DWP select committee have called for the introduction of statutory director’s duties. This would require companies to assign an individual director with specific health and safety duties. If a fatal accident occurred and it was shown that health and safety laws had been flouted, a custodial sentence could be imposed.

Currently just 30% of cases following the death of a worker result in a conviction and conviction rates are falling. Even if there is a conviction fines are often just a few thousand pounds. Cases such as today's are incredibly rare.

Mr Ritchie, added: "It is vital that we do not forget how rare manslaughter convictions are following the death of a worker. It would be a grave injustice if anyone should suggest that today’s verdict was a reason why statutory director’s duties should not be introduced."

(CD/KMcA)