Companies Admit Guilt After Two Workers Freeze to Death in Chicken Factory
Two companies have pleaded guilty to health and safety offences after two workers were found frozen to death at a chicken processing factory in Norfolk. The tragic incident occurred in October 2018 at the Banham Poultry Ltd facility in Attleborough.
Discovery of the Fatal Incident
Police were called to the site around 1am on October 4, 2018, where they discovered the bodies of Jonathan Collins, 34, and Neil Moon, 49. Both men were subcontractors working at the factory. A coroner's court review in 2024 heard that the pair were found with "frozen hands and faces" and there was "evidence of frost on the floor." A full inquest into their deaths has yet to be held.
Legal Proceedings and Guilty Pleas
Banham Poultry Ltd and Air Products PLC were each charged with two counts of corporate manslaughter and were due to stand trial at Norwich Crown Court on February 25. However, both companies entered guilty pleas to health and safety offences instead.
Banham Poultry Limited pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to discharge duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Air Products PLC, based in Chertsey, pleaded guilty to one count of the same offence. The pleas were entered on the basis of "significant cause of actual harm."
Craig Hassall KC, prosecuting, stated that these pleas were acceptable to the crown, and no evidence was offered regarding the corporate manslaughter charges. Not guilty verdicts were entered for those counts, as both companies denied the manslaughter allegations.
Sentencing Adjourned
The Honourable Mrs Justice Farbey has adjourned sentencing for a two-day hearing scheduled for March 31 and April 1 at the crown court. The offences relate to failing to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, a duty of care to workers.
Heartfelt Tributes from Families
The families of the deceased have shared emotional tributes. The family of Jonathan Collins described him as a "devoted family man who will continue to be loved and missed by all those who knew him."
Neil Moon's widow, who did not give her name, said: "Neil was the most amazing husband and father. There are no words to describe the loss I feel. Life will never be the same again. Tonight there will be a brighter star in the sky."
His son added: "I will miss listening to his stories, my life will never be the same without him. He was my hero and the best father I could've ever asked for." Mr. Moon's daughter expressed: "I will miss him so much and cherish all the memories we had together."
Changes in Ownership
The ownership of Banham Poultry has changed twice since the tragedy. The day after the deaths, Banham Poultry Limited announced that the factory had been bought by Chesterfield Poultry after the former went into administration. In October 2021, the business was sold to the current owners, Boparan Private Office (BPO), owned by Ranjit Boparan, founder of the 2 Sisters Food Group.
The current management and owners of Banham Poultry are not connected to the incident nor involved in the legal proceedings, according to reports.
