Builder guilty of boy wall death

A builder has admitted the manslaughter of a 15-year-old boy who had been crushed to death as he was left unsupervised to prop up a falling wall.

Adam Gosling, from Latchingdon, Essex, died from head injuries while working on a five-bedroom house in Hadley Wood, north London, in April 2007.

Colin Holtom, from Latchingdon, pleaded guilty to manslaughter by gross negligence at the Old Bailey.

Holtam, 64, could face jail when he is sentenced on Monday

"Laissez faire" attitude

Holtom had originally denied the offence but changed his plea on Tuesday when a retrial was due to begin.

Judge Christopher Moss told Holtom: "All options are open. Having given you bail, it does not rule out a custodial sentence."

Holtom was said to have a "laissez faire" attitude to health and safety.

The incident happened days after Mr Holtom sub-contracted the work from Darren Fowler, of Upminster, Essex. The court heard that Holtom had never provided safety equipment such as hard hats.

Fowler, 46, of Parkland Avenue, Upminster, Essex, pleaded guilty in April to breaching health and safety law and running a company while disqualified from being a director, and will be sentenced with Holtom.