VIDEO: Stroud’s Autodeals fined over £9,000 after visitor's life-changing fall

Autodeals of Stroud has been ordered to pay more than £9,000 after a customer toppled over a low wall and suffered serious injuries.

The incident occurred on February 2, 2022, at Autodeals of Stroud on Stratford Road. The elderly visitor, while opening the tailgate of a car for sale, was pushed backward and toppled over the wall, falling six feet onto a tarmac road below.

The man sustained a serious neck injury that has had life-changing effects, hospitalising him for five weeks and which continues to impact his mobility.

The event was captured on CCTV and shown to magistrates, clearly depicting how the fall occurred due to the lack of a protective fence.

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Michael Davies, the owner of Autodeals, pleaded guilty to failing in his duty to ensure the safety of visitors at his work premises.

He admitted the charge at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on December 9, 2024, and was sentenced on February 25.

The court imposed a fine of £3,600, along with £5,329.50 in council costs and a victim surcharge of £190, bringing the total to £9,119.50.

Following the incident, Stroud District Council released the video footage with the victim's consent to emphasise the critical importance of workplace health and safety.

In response, Autodeals has now installed railings around the top of the wall to prevent future accidents.

Council health and safety officer David Peacock, who led the investigation, described the incident as "an entirely foreseeable event." He noted that the low wall had concrete posts clearly designed to hold fence panels, which had not been maintained.

"Had the fence been in place, this tragic fall could have been prevented," Peacock stated. "This case highlights the importance of conducting proper health and safety risk assessments to protect visitors, employees, and the public."

Chloe Turner, environment committee chief at the council, called the incident "dreadful and entirely avoidable."