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Judge Judy Khan fines firms £1.15 million after collapse

9/10/2026

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Summary

Appledorn Fined £500k

Appledorn Developments and T Vaughan Limited were fined over £1 million after a trench-collapse death.
Judge Judy Khan KC imposed a £500,000 fine on Appledorn for lacking a safe work system.
Khan fined T Vaughan Limited £650,000 plus £40,000 costs, allowing six years for payment.
Contracts manager Anthony O'Connor received a 10-month custodial sentence, suspended 18 months, and 150 unpaid work hours.

Summary

TVL Spent

TVL said it spent nearly £3 million on safety measures before the trench collapse.
The trench collapse occurred at the Park Road site where a care home was being rebuilt.
HSE spokesperson warned future enforcement will be swift when basic safety standards are ignored.
Ienuta Arsene, the victim’s mother, said she suffers worsening depression and loneliness after her son’s death.

History

Historical Context

The UK introduced the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations in 1994, following EU Directive 92/57/EEC, to require formal safety plans after a construction fatality rate of 10 per 100,000 workers. Revised as CDM 2015 on 6 April 2015, the rules expanded client duties and raised the notification threshold. By 2021 the fatality rate fell to 1.62 per 100,000, showing the regulations’ long-term impact.

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Appledorn Fined £500k

Appledorn Developments and T Vaughan Limited were fined over £1 million after a trench-collapse death.
Judge Judy Khan KC imposed a £500,000 fine on Appledorn for lacking a safe work system.
Khan fined T Vaughan Limited £650,000 plus £40,000 costs, allowing six years for payment.
Contracts manager Anthony O'Connor received a 10-month custodial sentence, suspended 18 months, and 150 unpaid work hours.

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