Couple sentenced over riding death

A couple who ran a riding centre have been given conditional discharges after the death of a 13-year-old girl.

Rachel Crossley, from Pontefract, West Yorkshire, died after falling from a horse at the Phoenix Equestrian Centre, Ledstone Hall, near Castleford, in April 2002.

The former owners of the centre, David Compton, 61, and his 53-year-old wife Susan,who now live at Winestead, near Hull, admitted a breach of the Health and Safety Act 1974.

At Leeds Crown Court on Thursday, Judge James Spencer QC gave them both 12-month conditional discharges.

'Tragic case'

At an earlier hearing, Leeds magistrates heard how the horse did not have a saddle or proper bridle on at the time and experts decided Rachel's riding hat was too big for her.

She suffered severe head injuries in the fall and died in hospital five days later.

The court heard the Comptons could not bear to go on with the riding school after the accident.

Following the case Leeds City Council, which brought the prosecution, issued a statement which said: "This is a sad and tragic case where supervision should have been in place to ensure the health and safety of the children at the Phoenix Equestrian Centre.

"This chain of events has had devastating and far reaching effects on both Rachel's family and Mr and Mrs Compton who owned and ran the centre.

"It is essential for other proprietors of similar establishments not only to have health and safety procedures in place but to ensure that they are adhered to at all times."