‘James Bond’ builder fined for threats to HSE inspectors

David Robert Lane, 59, was the location supervisor of an intensive cottage refurbishment in Staffordshire when unsafe work caught the eye of two inspectors from the HSE.

The pair had been finishing up routine inspections within the Rugeley space on 11 February 2025 once they noticed two folks on the location accessing a roof from the bucket of an excavator.

There have been round ten employees on the location and when the inspectors approached, Lane, who would later be recognized as the location supervisor, came to visit to intervene.

He refused to determine himself, besides as James Bond, and rebuffed their makes an attempt to examine the location. He went on to inform the inspectors he was in truth the property proprietor, that the boys on website have been unpaid pals and kinfolk, and that that they had no authorized proper to examine.

He adopted that up with threats of violence, at which level the inspectors withdrew.

The 2 inspectors returned to the location per week later, accompanied by officers from Staffordshire Police.

Web site supervisor Lane greeted them with a shout of “It’s PC Plod!” whereas nonetheless refusing to determine himself. He maintained that he was the proprietor, advised all his workers to not converse to HSE, besides to verify that they have been his kinfolk and never at work, and advised the inspectors as soon as once more that that they had no proper to examine and to go away the location.

After making a number of enquiries, the inspectors have been in a position to determine Lane as the location supervisor which resulted in him being served with enforcement motion.

Upon receiving notification that he was to be prosecuted he responded with three expletive laden emails, and mentioned “I received’t leap by your hoops”.

David Robert Lane, of Rugeley, Staffordshire, didn’t attend Birmingham Magistrates Court docket on two events, and on the latter was discovered responsible after being tried in his absence. He was fined £3,000, ordered to pay full prices of £6,450 and should a sufferer surcharge of £1,200.

Talking after the listening to, HSE inspector Gareth Langston mentioned: “This case highlights the difficulties we face in making an attempt to enhance the well being and security of employees throughout Nice Britain.

“We settle for that not all employers can be happy to see us, however the overwhelming majority are skilled and settle for us with good grace.

“HSE is not going to tolerate the obstruction of its inspectors, and should prosecute offenders in uncommon instances reminiscent of this, the place that is needed.”