Boss jailed for workers' deaths

The head of a Midlands paint stripping firm has been sentenced to nine months in jail for the manslaughter of two of his workers.

Mumtaz Hussain, 43, and 22-year-old Ghulum Sarwar died four years ago after being overcome by toxic fumes at ENG engineering, in West Bromwich.

The firm's boss, 49-year-old Ian Morris was found guilty of manslaughter following a trial last month.

Sentencing Mr Morris at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday, Justice Beatson reminded him that the jury had agreed he had been grossly negligent and had failed to ensure the factory had been properly ventilated.

The judge said he had taken into account the four year wait for the case to be resolved and that Mr Morris would have to carry the burden of the deaths with him for the rest of his life.

But he said the impact on the men's families of their deaths was "immeasurable" and nine months was the shortest he could give him in the circumstances.