Two companies plead guilty following death of five-year-old Alexys Brown in August 2015

Before Bournemouth Crown Court, two companies have today pleaded guilty following a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into the death of a five-year-old girl who became trapped while using a lift at her home in Weymouth. On 13 August 2015, Alexys Brown got into the lift and put her head through a damaged vision panel. As the lift moved upward, her head got stuck between the lift and the ground floor ceiling. Alexys died as a result of her injuries. Today, Thursday 23 August 2018, Synergy Housing Limited of West Street, Poole and Orona Limited of Europa View, Sheffield Business Park both pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They are due to be sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on 14-15 January 2019. Charges against a third company, Aster Property Ltd, under Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, have been ordered to lie on file. A HSE spokesperson said: “HSE acknowledges today’s guilty pleas but will not make a further comment until after sentencing.”