Daniel Watton, 50, who operated under the name Inside Out Painters and Decorators Property Maintenance, received a suspended prison sentence following the death of trainee painter Connor Lambert. The 24-year-old, from Market Drayton, died after his ladder struck power lines while he was working alongside his stepfather, according to the regulatory body, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Lambert was working at a home in Ferndon, Cheshire, on July 29, 2024, when the fatal incident occurred. He was expecting his first child with his partner, Megan McCann, at the time.

The loss has left the community in shock, highlighting the critical importance of workplace safety protocols in the construction and maintenance sector. Watton, a native of Wollerton, pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations due to poor work planning.

He was handed a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. The court emphasized that the failure to assess risks in an environment involving high-voltage lines was a significant oversight that led to the tragedy.

HSE investigators concluded that the work was neither properly planned nor supervised, and was not carried out safely. The investigation further revealed that the equipment and methods used were unsuitable, citing a lack of training and general incompetence.

The report noted that simple risk assessment procedures could have prevented the contact with the power lines. Watton was ordered to pay £10,645 in damages at Warrington Magistrates Court on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.

The judge noted that while the sentence is suspended, the financial penalty serves as a reminder of the legal obligations business owners have toward their employees and trainees. This incident serves as a grim reminder for small business owners in the property maintenance industry.

Regulatory bodies continue to urge contractors to prioritize safety training and site inspections to avoid such preventable fatalities in the future.