Father and son guilty of manslaughter

Alistair and Edward Crowe were convicted of manslaughter

Former national point-to-point champion Alistair Crowe has been found guilty of the manslaughter of a 16-year-old farm apprentice.

His father Edward Crowe was also convicted, following the death of Lee Smith.

Both men were found guilty by a majority verdict at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday.

Mr Smith, who lived at Grinshill, Shropshire, was a trainee at the Crowes' farm in Hadnall, Shropshire, when he died in November 1999.

The JCB potato loader he was operating was hit by a lorry on the A49, crushing him to death in the cab.

Criminally neglect

The jury heard that Mr Smith should not have been driving the JCB because he had neither the experience nor the proper training.

Alistair Crowe, who was national point champion in 1993, and his father were said to have been criminally negligent in failing in their duty of care towards Mr Smith.

The judge, Mr Justice McKay, adjourned the case until October for sentencing and remanded the two men on bail until then.

He told them they faced the strong possibility of a prison sentence.

He added that the crime was serious and needed an appropriately serious sentence.