Boss jailed after worker fell into industrial shredder and died

A boss has been sent to prison for seven-and-a-half years after a worker fell into an industrial shredder and died.

David Willis, 29, was killed after falling into the machine designed to crush waste products at Timmins Waste Services. The gruesome tragedy saw the worker place his arm in the machine.

Wood and commercial waste services manager Brian Timmins, 54, had been in the cab of the digger and told Willis to clear the blockage in the shredder while it was running.

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David was seen on police footage kneeling at the edge of the machine, reaching in but soon fell into the machine and was killed instantly by the meshing blades. Timmins then climbed on top of the hopper before moving away from the scene and pulling out his mobile phone.

A call was made to Mr Willis' number, before Timmins climbed back into the digger and continued working, with the labourer's remains buried in shredded waste.

A missing persons report was made by Willis' mother on September 15, 2018. The remains of her son will never be found, police say, as they were transported along with 80 tonnes of waste to a landfill site in Cannock, Staffordshire, on Timmins' orders. He was found guilty of manslaughter and jailed yesterday at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Detective Inspector Jim Colclough of West Midlands Police said: "We found major, systemic failings across TWS which meant workers were put at risk. Risk assessments were not done, and safe methods of working were simply not put in place. Timmins’ failure to lock off the shredder, and his decision to put Mr Willis in a position of danger, directly