St James and Lindner Prater Limited have been fined £1.3 million and ordered to pay £250,000 in costs following the death of coach driver Mick Ferris.
Ferris, 53, died on 2 October 2018 when a window fell from a penthouse at The Corniche on London’s Albert Embankment. He was returning to his coach, parked on the opposite side of the road, when the glass fell around 300 feet.
The window weighed 130kg. Ferris worked for Clarkes of London, part of National Express, and a colleague said he had been with the business for more than 30 years. The court also heard that a woman pushing a wheelchair narrowly avoided being struck.
Window design and the causes of failure
The trial heard that the penthouse windows had initially been designed to open inwards. They were subsequently changed to open outwards to avoid a clash with an internal ceiling coffer containing pipes and wiring.
HSE found inadequate risk assessment. Safety relied on one restrictor secured by one screw, while manufacturers had not confirmed the fittings’ suitability for the bespoke curved windows.
According to evidence reported from the trial, a restrictor intended to prevent detachment had been removed. Jurors heard that the fatal window was blown off its hinges before construction was complete.
Earlier window fall preceded the fatal incident
Another window had fallen from the development in August 2017. The court heard that this earlier incident had not resulted in substantial changes to the design.
Jurors were shown an email recording concerns about a further window falling. Prosecutors argued that opportunities to reconsider the risks had been missed.
Construction workers had been instructed to keep the windows closed, and residents were given small warning notices. The prosecution argued that this approach depended on occupants remembering to close them. Inward-opening windows were installed after Ferris’s death.
Family describes the loss
In the HSE release, his wife Rachel said:
“Mick was just minding his own business. One minute there, one minute gone.”
She described the lasting impact: “My life has changed forever.”
Rachel recalled their unfinished preparations for an anniversary trip to the Maldives. She also remembered his devotion to his children and grandchildren, his love of coach driving and the 400 people who attended his funeral.
Fines, costs and verdicts
Sentencing took place at Inner London Crown Court on 24 September 2026:
- St James: £1 million fine and £125,000 costs.
- Lindner Prater Limited: £300,000 fine and £125,000 costs.
The £1.55 million total therefore includes costs. Both convictions were under Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
St James Group became principal designer in 2015, with responsibility for coordinating health and safety matters, the court heard.
All four defendants had denied the charges. Following more than 11 hours of deliberations, the jury convicted St James and Lindner Prater, while acquitting architect Foster + Partners and design engineer Wintech Ltd.
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/developers-found-guilty-after-man-53-crushed-by-falling-window-13570729
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