Dad who reversed over son cleared of manslaughter

Albie Speakman died after the collision on his family's farm in Bury

A father who reversed a farm vehicle over his three-year-old son has been cleared of his manslaughter.

Albie Speakman suffered catastrophic injuries when he was struck by a telehandler driven by Neil Speakman on their family farm in Bury, Greater Manchester, on 16 July 2022.

The 39-year-old, who said it had been a "tragic accident", was found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter by jurors at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

Speakman is set to be sentenced later after admitting a health and safety offence.

'Blind spots'

The court heard that Speakman had reversed the telehandler into Albie in a yard outside a small garden area which lay in front of their farmhouse on Bentley Hall Road in Walshaw.

The boy had been left by his father to play in the area, jurors were told.

Speakman said that while the telehandler had been missing a wing mirror, he would "check profusely" for blind spots.

He said he did not see his son.

Recounting the collision, he told the court he had "stopped instantly" after feeling a bump.

"If I thought Albie was even an inch into that yard I would never have moved that vehicle," he told the court.

The prosecution said the area Albie had been playing in was insecure, and that the telehandler had various defects.

During cross-examination, Speakman told prosecutor John Elvidge KC that it had been a "tragic accident" and he had "made a mistake".

Speakman admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act, in that he failed to ensure, so far as reasonably practical, the health and safety of his son.