Neil Moon, 49, and Jonathan ‘Jon’ Collins, 34, were tragically found dead on a pest control job at Banham Poultry in Norfolk after unknowingly walking through a pathway filled with toxic gas
The frozen bodies of two pest control workers were discovered after the pair unknowingly stepped into a factory filled with toxic gas, a court heard.
Neil Moon, 49, and Jonathan ‘Jon’ Collins, 34, were tragically found dead at Banham Poultry in Norfolk in the early hours of October 4, 2018, after panicked relatives phoned the police when they failed to return home.
The victim’s families say their lives have “changed forever” after learning the men died from asphyxiation when nitrogen gas built up in a narrow pathway at the side of the chicken factory. Norwich Crown Court heard the men had entered the walkway while carrying out routine pest control work.
There were no warning signs to indicate they were stepping into lethal gas, the court heard, with prosecutors describing the incident as a “cavalier” safety failure.
Prosecutor Craig Hassall KC said: “Ultimately, they were killed by a colourless, odourless gas. When they walked into the passageway they were given no warning of the risks.”
The men’s bodies were found at around 1am in the one-man-width corridor between the factory and nearby railway tracks, with evidence of frozen hands and faces.
CCTV footage played to the court showed the pair arriving at the factory at around 8.30am. They were last seen alive at 11.40am. Relatives reported the men missing after they failed to return home that evening, sparking a search which led to the horror discovery.
The toxic gas had come from a dislodged duct pipe connected to a chilling system that the factory used to process chickens, the court heard.
Mr Hassall told the court: “When these men entered the passageway ducting had become detached, pumping concentrated nitrogen into a narrow space.”
Concerns had been raised in the past about mist drifting across railway platforms near the site, the hearing was told.
This led to a number of changes to the system in the months before the men were found. But Mr Hassall said the work had not been carried out safely, arguing the company had failed to protect workers on site.
Banham Poultry Limited and Air Products plc have admitted health and safety offences on the basis that the breaches caused the deaths.
The men’s families spoke of their devastation in emotional statements read to the court. Jon’s wife Gillian said: “My life stopped but I had to find the strength to carry on for our son.”
“I still don’t know why it has taken these companies seven a half years to accept responsibility for causing these deaths,” she added. “The careless and reckless actions of those responsible have had catastrophic consequences.”
Their daughter Dakota described Jon as an “amazing father”. She added: “My dad was a kind and caring man just doing his job. They were robbed of their lives.”
Neil’s fiancée Sara Dutton described him as a “strong and devoted family man”, adding: “My life and the lives of my children changed forever. Our grief has not diminished over time. I have had seven years just treading water. Not really living, just waiting for the truth.”
The sentencing hearing is due to conclude after two days.
