Fine over violinist's finger injury

Mr Phipps says his career is over

An auctioneer has been fined after a jazz violinist lost part of his finger when a starting pistol went off in his hand.

Musician Jonathan Phipps says his career is over following the incident at the auction house in Worcester 18 months ago.

Mr Phipps, from Kidderminster, had gone to the auction house to examine the starting pistol when it went off in his hand and the exhaust gases blew off the end of his middle finger on his left hand.

Auctioneer Andrew Grant appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Friday and was ordered to pay £23,000 in fines and costs under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Civil action

Speaking to BBC's Midlands Today in 2001, just after the incident, Jonathan Phipps said he had been a professional violinist for more than a decade.

"I'd been playing the violin since I was nine years of age, the violin is my life and I won't be able to play it again," he said.

Mr Grant apologised to Mr Phipps in court on Friday although he had not organised the sale but had delegated it to one of his employees.

Outside court solicitor Richard Morgan said on behalf of Andrew Grant: "Mr Grant is extremely sorry that Mr Phipps sustained this injury as a result of an isolated lapse in procedure.

"Immediate action has been taken by Mr Grant to ensure that nothing like this happens again."

Mr Phipps is taking civil action against the auctioneers to seek damages.