Developer imprisoned for risking safety of public and workers

A property developer has been sent to prison after breaching safety prohibition orders on numerous occasions.

Eze Kinsley has been ordered to serve 30 months in prison after breaching the orders put in place to protect workers. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation also showed significant risks to the public on the Essex site.

The HSE first visited the site in February 2013, after locals were worried about falling debris and workers seemingly operating without height protective equipment or workwear.

While on site, the HSE inspector was verbally abused by Kinsley, forcing the regulatory body's officer to return with the police.

The investigation found that there were no safety measures protecting workers from falling debris, as well as highlighting a risk of injury to the public using the pavement adjacent to the site.

Prohibition notices were served to stop the work on site immediately; Kinsley reacted by physically assaulting the inspector.

Reports were then received that work was continuing on the site, with the HSE issuing a further notice in April 2013. This was also breached.

Kinsey was found guilty of two health and safety breaches at Chelmsford Crown Court, for which he will serve 30 months. The sentence will be served concurrently, with three 12-month sentences also handed down to Kinsley for contravening a Prohibition Notice.

Kinsley was also ordered to pay court costs of £5,000.

At an earlier court appearance, Kinsley was also found guilty of assaulting HSE inspector Jonathan Elven, who said that conditions and practices at the site were 'appalling' and 'woefully inadequate'.