Cesspit death boss sentenced

Nathan Pringle was pulled from the cesspit by his father

A Cornish holiday park manager has been given a 12-month suspended sentence after being found guilty of manslaughter following the death of a boy who fell into a cesspit.

Michael Kelly, 68, of Crantock, near Newquay, was found guilty on Wednesday for the death of Nathan Pringle at the Newperran Tourist Park near Newquay.

Four-year-old Nathan, from Bracknell, Berkshire, died six days after falling into the cesspit during a family camping holiday on 10 August, 2001.

Alan Frear, 54, from Perranporth, Cornwall, a director of the Trevella Caravan Company Ltd, which owns the tourist park, has been fined £12,000 and the company a further £15,000.

Personally responsible

Nathan and his brother, Daniel, were taking the family dog, Holly, for a walk in a field while their parents were packing at the end of the holiday.

Daniel said he and Nathan stood on some of the drain covers which had stones on them before he heard a splash.

Nathan was pulled from the cesspit by his father after Daniel ran to raise the alarm.

He was taken to hospital, but died six days later.

Kelly had denied being personally responsible for the death of the boy.

Mrs Justice Hallett told Kelly that Nathan Pringle's family had endured "every parents nightmare".

Frear was found guilty on Wednesday by the jury of failing to discharge a duty under the Health and Safety Act.

Nathan's parents were in court to hear the sentencing. They declined to comment on the sentence.