Scrapyard cleared of manslaughter

The gas cylinders were being cut up manually with an industrial cutter

A Dorset firm has been found not guilty of corporate manslaughter after a worker died in an scrapyard explosion.

Thomas Mooney, 64, was helping to cut cylinders of highly dangerous gases when one of them exploded at the site in Poole, Dorset, in 2005.

He was engulfed in flames and died at the site in Nuffield Road.

Reliance Scrap Metal Merchants Parkstone and one of its directors were cleared of manslaughter charges at Winchester Crown Court on Tuesday.

The company had previously pleaded guilty to two counts under health and safety legislation and director David Matthews, 56, was also found guilty of two counts under health and safety legislation.

Mr Matthews also pleaded guilty to one charge of perverting the course of justice and was found guilty of two further counts of perverting the course of justice.

He was cleared of manslaughter.

Fellow director Michael Anderson, 48, was found guilty of one count of perverting the course of justice but cleared of a second count of perverting the course of justice.

Det Insp Jez Noyce, of Dorset Police, said: "The courts, the Crown Prosecution Service and Dorset Police take offences of perverting the course of justice extremely seriously.

"In this case, the two defendants used their position in the company to pressurise and manipulate their staff into giving false and erroneous evidence."

Sentencing has been adjourned until September.