Street butcher fined after boy loses hand in mincing machine

The boy's hand had to be amputated at the scene as a result of the accident

A butcher has been fined £3,000 after a teenage apprentice's hand was chopped off in a mincing machine.

The 16-year-old boy's right hand had to be amputated in the shop after it became trapped in the machine, which was being used without a guard.

Paul Jeffery of P&K Meats in Street, Somerset, had previously pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health and safety of his staff at work.

Yeovil magistrates also ordered Mr Jeffery to pay £12,104.76 costs.

When the mincing machine was removed and examined following the incident in July 2013, Mendip District Council environmental health officers found it was being used without a guard or restrictor plate and "would have exposed any user to risk of harm".

After sentencing, Stuart Cave, from the council, said: "This was a horrific accident in which a young man received life-changing injuries.

"The accident could have been avoided had the necessary safety equipment been used."