Lee Warburton, who was 53 at the time of his death, was employed by food wholesaler Bestway Northern Limited (part of the Bestway Wholesale Group) when the incident occurred.
On 19 February 2019, Warburton was making a delivery to a retail store in Manchester and was acting as a banksman to direct his colleague who was reversing the heavy-good vehicle (HGV).
While attempting to guide the vehicle into the unloading area, Warburton became trapped between the vehicle and a wall, and sustained fatal crush injuries.
A subsequent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that Bestway Northern Limited, of Abbey Road in London, had failed to implement a safe system of work for vehicle movements. The company was also found to have failed to adequately assess the risks involved in the task or provide sufficient training for employees acting as banksmen.
Bestway Northern Limited pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and was fined £1 million and ordered to pay full prosecution costs of £11,950.07 at a hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Friday 18 June 2025.
Bestway Wholesale Group is one of the UK’s largest independent food wholesalers, delivering to more than 100,000 independent retailers.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Jane Carroll said: “The company had failed to implement a safe system of work for its delivery and unloading activities, thereby exposing employees and others to the risk of being struck or caught by workplace vehicles.
“Nearly a quarter of all deaths involving workplace transport occur during reversing, most of which can be avoided by taking simple precautions.
“All work settings involving vehicles need to consider the risks arising from their use and implement adequate measures to ensure the safety of those involved in these activities.”
Warburton’s partner, Hayley Tomlinson, described the pain his death has caused their daughters.
“To be taken in such a cruel manner made it even harder,” Tomlinson said.
“Knowing the pain and fear Lee must have gone through was unbearable. But nothing compares to the moment I had to tell our children their daddy was never coming home.
“It broke my children’s spirits; they lost the sparkle in their eyes. Lee was their hero.”
