Street cleaner's cut finger costs council £100,000

Steven Threlfall, who works for Hull Council, went to court after he was badly cut as he cleared the rubbish-strewn garden of a council property using "glorified gardening gloves", four years ago.

After three court hearings running up vast sums in legal bills, three of the country's most senior judges ruled the council to blame.

Mr Threlfall's artery and nerve in his litte finger was severed and the tendon partially cut, by a sharp object protruding through a bin bag, which left him needing surgery to repair the damage.

He argued his employers were at fault because they failed to provide him with cut-resistant gloves.

His damages claim was dismissed after two previous court hearings, but today Mr Threlfall emerged triumphant from London's Civil Appeal Court.

Lady Justice Smith, sitting with Lord Justice Ward and Lord Justice Jackson, said the standard issue gloves he was given "were plainly not effective to prevent or adequately control the risk of laceration".

The judge ruled that Mr Threlfall was in no way to blame for his own injury and concluded: "I would hold that the gloves provided by the employer (Hull) were unsuitable and their provision amounted to a breach of regulation".

Mr Threlfall fought his case on a "no-win, no-fee" basis and Hull must pay 30,000 of his legal costs straight away. That will only be a fraction of the final costs bill, which is almost certain to run into six figures after top QCs appeared on both sides in the case.

Hull must also pay Mr Threlfall 3,000 interim damages, with the final amount yet to be set.