Farm shop bosses fined over E.coli outbreak

BOSSES at a South Ribble farm shop and restaurant have admitted serious failings which left four children fighting for their lives after a ‘lambing live’ event.

Huntley’s Country Stores in Samlesbury admitted a breach of duty of care in failing to assess the risks which led to the catastrophic E.coli outbreak following the three-week event in March and April 2014 in which visitors were allowed to stroke and feed lambs and watch sheep give birth.

A total of 15 people were struck down by the killer bug – 13 of them children – with nine people needing hospital treatment. A further 15 possible cases were also recorded.

Four of the children went on to develop the deadly Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome after the bug caused their kidneys to fail. The youngsters were transferred to Manchester Children’s Hospital where they were put on dialysis. Some parents were told their children may die.

The case sets a precedent as the country’s first prosecution for an animal-related outbreak of E.coli 0157.

Despite being given numerous copies of the industry code of practice, management at Huntley’s did not follow the correct procedure to keep the event safe.

A catalogue of errors included allowing visitors extensive and uncontrolled access to the lambs – children were allowed to enter the animal pens and roll around in faeces-covered straw.

During bottle-feeding lambs were allowed to climb onto the seats, leaving them filthy and visibly soiled with faeces.

Animal pens had open bar gates allowing contaminated bedding to spill out onto the main visitor area.

Animals were densely packed, creating an environment favourable to the build-up of the bacteria.

Hand washing basins meant for visitors were used to clean animal feeding dishes, causing the water to be contaminated with the deadly bug.

The UK’s leading expert on E.coli 0157 and emeritus professor of bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen, Professor Hugh Pennington, who worked on the case, said: “It is hard to think of a better way to facilitate the transmission of E.coli 0157 from infected lambs to children than by allowing them to romp in a pen with lambs, stroke them, and lie down in and play with the straw in the pen (likely to contain faeces), and to sit on seats contaminated with faeces to feed lambs, followed by washing their hands in a sink containing water contaminated with lamb faeces.”

At Preston Crown Court, Harry Wilson, 68, managing director of Huntley’s Country Stores, based at Huntley Gate Farm, Whalley Road, Samlesbury, pleaded guilty to a breach of duty of care to employees and visitors attending the Lambing Live event under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

He was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £60,000 costs to South Ribble Borough Council.

Sentencing, Judge Pamela Badley, said: “What was intended to be a lovely family day turned into a nightmare. There’s no doubt that the harm caused is at a very high level. It resulted in a life-threatening and life-changing injury to these young victims and their families.”

The families of those affected will now be free to pursue civil claims against Huntley’s, which could run to millions of pounds.

South Ribble Borough Council worked with six other authorities, as well as the Animal and Plant Health Agency and Public Health England on the case.

Cllr Warren Bennett, Deputy Leader of South Ribble Borough Council, said: “To put it bluntly, this is by far the worst breach of health and safety we have ever seen at South Ribble Borough Council.

“Despite repeated offers of help from our environmental health officers and numerous copies of the industry code of practice being given to Huntley’s, they blatantly disregarded all advice.

“The risk assessment was woefully inadequate, having been written by a member of staff whose only guidance was an internet search engine. Huntley’s was reluctant to accept our advice and change the set-up even after the first possible case of E.coli came to light.”