"Total lunacy" of construction director jailed over skylight death plunge

A construction company director has been jailed for one year over the manslaughter of a Chinese man who died after a fall on a Norfolk building site.

Alcon Construction director Sharaz Butt, 44, pleaded guilty over the death of Wu Zhu Weng who fell at bakery café The Panary in Trowse on January 31.

Butt was also disqualified from acting as a company director for five years in the Norwich Crown Court.

The company, which went into liquidation last year, was given a token £10 fine.

On behalf of the company, Butt also admitted failing to ensure the safety of people at work between 3 January and 2 February 2008 for not carrying out risk assessments.

According to the BBC, prosecutor Shauna Ritch told the court that open spaces on the roof for skylights were covered with plastic sheeting.

Mr Wu stood on one and fell 4.6m to the ground, dying in Norwich University Hospital.

The court also heard there were no English-speaking workers on site and none paid tax or were registered.

Acting for the defence, Michael Clare said Butt had safety gear on site at the time of the accident.

Judge Peter Jacobs said not guarding the skylights was “total lunacy”.

He said: “They were probably illegal immigrants grateful for work with no questions asked.”

Butt was charged after a two-month investigation by police and the Health and Safety Executive.