Sean Baker, a driver for GRS Recovery Bournemouth, was sentenced to 14 weeks in prison, suspended for one year, at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday. This followed an incident on 22 March 2024 where a Range Rover he was recovering rolled down a hill.
CCTV footage showed the two-tonne vehicle rolling down Exeter Crescent, dragging Mr Baker along. Kai Dransfield, who was on a break from work, attempted to help Mr Baker but was struck by the 4x4 and pulled underneath it.
Mr Dransfield sustained serious injuries, including multiple broken bones in his legs and fractures to his spine, and continues to suffer chronic pain. A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that Mr Baker had removed a winch and placed skates under the rear wheels without securing them with chocks or breakaway cables, which would have prevented the vehicle from rolling.
The HSE concluded that Mr Baker failed to take reasonable care for his own safety and that of others by not following established recovery procedures. Mr Baker pleaded guilty to breaching Section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.