A company that went into administration following the death of an employee has been fined £900,000 that it is unlikely ever to pay. It was also ordered to pay costs of £60,336.99, which will also go unpaid.

The prosecution was brought after an employee died from head injuries following a wall collapsing on to him at a construction site at Lyme Regis.

On 14 March Bournemouth Crown Court heard how Thomas Telfer had been working as a bricklayer employed by Capstone Building Ltd on 2 June 2015 when he was struck by falling masonry after a retaining wall failed as it was being back filled with concrete.

An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive found that Capstone had failed to manage the work approptiately and failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees on site, including Thomas Telfer.

Capstone Building Ltd, which is in administration, was found guilty of breaching Section 2 and Section 3 of the Health & Safety at Work Etc Act 1974.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Ian Whittles said: “This tragic incident could so easily have been avoided if the appropriate measures were in place to provide a safe working practice. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”