A contractor has been handed a suspended prison sentence and ordered to complete unpaid work after showing what an inspector described as ‘complete contempt’ for worker safety and for ignoring enforcement action from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The contractor was found to have continued unsafe work on a construction site near Wembley, north London, despite being served with a prohibition notice by HSE on 7 September 2018. Inspectors visiting the site discovered unplanned and unsupervised work taking place, including dangerous demolition activities and workers operating at height with no protection against falls. Despite being ordered to stop work immediately, he ignored the prohibition notice and allowed the hazardous activities to continue, placing workers at serious risk of injury or death.
He later failed to attend court in 2021, prompting the issue of a warrant for his arrest. Police eventually detained him after receiving intelligence from the local community, allowing court proceedings to resume.
He not only ignored HSE and the criminal justice system, he showed complete contempt for the safety of workers.
At Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 7 October 2025, he pleaded guilty to breaching a prohibition notice under section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work Act. He was sentenced to 20 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 10 days of rehabilitation, and to pay £12,151 in costs.
‘He not only ignored HSE and the criminal justice system, he showed complete contempt for the safety of workers,’ said HSE inspector Saif Deen. ‘Employers have a legal duty to ensure construction work is properly planned, managed, and supervised. We will not hesitate to take action against those who disregard enforcement and continue to put workers at risk. ‘Working at height remains one of the leading causes of workplace death and injury. We would like to thank the local community for helping to ensure justice was done.’
Source – IOSH
