A CONTRACTOR plunged to his death at an “obviously dangerous” site where he was working to restore a town’s fire damaged pier, a court heard.

Stephen Penrice was working on Eastbourne Pier after it had been gutted by a fire.

The 44-year-old fell through the Victorian structure and died after landing on the pebble beach 30ft below.

It is alleged that the company he worked for, MPM North West Ltd, failed to act in its duty of care towards him.

Site foreman Paul Dixon, 53, and project director Michael Hawkins, 37, have gone on trial accused of manslaughter by gross negligence.

At Brighton Crown Court a jury was sworn in to hear evidence in the case before High Court judge Sir Michael Soole.

Philip Evans QC, prosecuting, opened the case and said the incident happened on August 19, 2014.

The Argus: Stephen Penrice died in a fall through Eastbourne PierStephen Penrice died in a fall through Eastbourne Pier

He said: “Stephen Penrice was working on a construction site, engaged in part of a project to carry out repairs to Eastbourne Pier which had earlier been damaged by fire.

“As he was taking a break from work, he fell through the pier, and as a result of that fall he died.

“This case centres around that death and the reasons for it., and also deals with allegations relating to health and safety offences.”

The Argus: Tributes to Stephen Penrice at the scene in Eastbourne in 2014Tributes to Stephen Penrice at the scene in Eastbourne in 2014

Mr Evans showed the jury pictures of the scene taken by drone photography after the front portion of the pier needed extensive rebuilding work after the fire in July 2014.

The grade-II listed landmark, first opened in 1870, was closed for months while repairs were carried out.

Police believe the fire may have been caused by arson, but no arrests were made.
MPM North West Ltd carried out work at the pier so it could reopen.

Mr Evans said Mr Penrice, from Sandylonning, Netherton, Cumbria, fell through the structure, about the distance of a three-storey building onto the beach below.

The Argus: How Eastbourne Pier looked in 2015, still showing the fire damage from 2014How Eastbourne Pier looked in 2015, still showing the fire damage from 2014

“Our case is that the defendants breached their duty of care that they owed to Mr Penrice, and that the breach was so bad in this case that it amounts to gross negligence,” Mr Evans said.

“Michael Hawkins and Paul Dixon owed a duty to take reasonable care of his safety by providing a safe environment and to provide a safe means of access and egress from the pier.

“Images show what Stephen Penrice was confronted with on the day he was working. We say that these images depict a site which was generally unsafe.”

The Argus: Paul Dixon and Michael Hawkins are accused of gross negligence manslaughterPaul Dixon and Michael Hawkins are accused of gross negligence manslaughter

Mr Evans said a walkway from scaffolding was made on the west side, but as it was being removed to allow for repairs, a walkway also appeared on the east side of the pier out of wooden boards.

There were gaps between the loose boards, and Mr Penrice may have stepped onto a part of concrete which might have appeared safer, but then this gave way beneath him.

Mr Penrice did not have an attached harness or wire available, and there were no safety nets below to catch him or break his fall.

The Argus: How Eastbourne Pier looked two days after the fire, a few weeks before repair work started in 2014How Eastbourne Pier looked two days after the fire, a few weeks before repair work started in 2014

Mr Evans said: “There was no edge or protection at the side of the boards. There were gaps between them and they were not fixed down. 

“Just looking at that right side of the pier, it is obviously dangerous. There was no effective safety restraint either by a harness or a physical barrier.”

Dixon, formerly of Caroline Way, Eastbourne, Hawkins, formerly of The

Promenade, Maryport, and MPM North West Ltd deny manslaughter.

Mr Justice Soole told jurors the trial will last for several weeks.