Selby pit boss cleared in miner death trial

A PIT manager from North Yorkshire has been cleared of safety breaches after the death of a coal miner, on the orders of a judge.

A jury has been hearing how Trevor Steeples, 46, was overcome by methane gas 2,300ft (700m) underground at the Daw Mill colliery, near Coventry, in June 2006.

John Alstead, 54, of Barlby, Selby, and Terry Davison, 53, of Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire, have been on trial at Sheffield Crown Court for more than three weeks. Both denied breaching safety regulations.

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They have both been found not guilty on the orders of the judge, Mr Justice Macduff.

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said: “On legal advice, the Health and Safety Executive has decided to offer no further evidence in the prosecution of Terence Davison and John Alstead.”

At the opening of the case last month, the jury was told Mr Alstead was the mine manager at the time of Mr Steeples’ death.

Mr Davison was an assistant under-manager with particular responsibilities in district of the mine where the accident happened. Mr Steeples was a foreman, or deputy, in the pit and had worked in the industry for many years.

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The jury was told about the brave efforts of his fellow mineworkers to get to him and then bring him out of the pit.

Daw Mill is one of the last deep coal mines still active in England. UK Coal, which owns and runs the pit, has already admitted safety breaches in relation to the death of Mr Steeples.

The firm has also admitted breaches in relation to the deaths of three other miners, two of whom also died at Daw Mill. UK Coal is expected to be sentenced later this year.