JHE Construction and Jordan Hay-Ellis pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety laws following the incident on 23 February 2023.

The company had been contracted to complete a full barn conversion, which included the installation of a new septic tank.

In order to install the tank, workers had to dig an excavation approximately three metres deep. Edward Keely, 30, along with two other men, had been tasked with doing the work at Lone Oak Farm.

The trio were in the hole preparing to install a concrete base for the septic tank to sit on when the walls collapsed. Keeley was struck by falling soil which resulted in multiple bone fractures and required for him to be dug out.

An HSE investigation found that no precautions had been taken to prevent the collapse of the excavation.

JHE Construction Limited, of West Sussex, pleaded guilty to safety breaches and was fined £16,000 and ordered to pay £2,612 in costs at Brighton Magistrates Court.

Jodran Hay-Ellie of West Sussex also pleaded guilty and was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Nathan Kent said: “The risk associated with excavation collapse is well understood within the construction industry and this incident was easily foreseeable.

“All excavation work should be supported or battered back.

“Failure to do so in this case resulted in a young man sustained very serious injuries.

“HSE will not hesitate to take action against companies which do not do all they can to keep people safe.”