A cleaning company has been fined after failing in its duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

MacDet Hygiene Cleaning Services Ltd was fined £37,500 and ordered to pay costs of over £13,000.  The company also had to pay £170 victim surcharge.

It follows an incident in the kitchen of the Premier Inn at Gatwick Airport’s North Terminal back in 2014.

An employee of the cleaning company stood on one of the filters from the canopy over a deep fat fryer, which was not designed for this purpose, and slipped. He was seriously scalded.

Crawley Borough Council carried out an investigation and ruled the cleaning company had failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, failed to ensure adequate training of the staff and to ensure all the essential equipment was available before carrying out the operation.

The company has been allowed 12 months to pay.

A motorcyclist has sadly died following a collision on the A22 in Godstone yesterday morning.  The incident occurred just after 7 am when the rider came off his bike near the roundabout with Godstone Hill and the M25 junction. The man, in his 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene and his next of kin has been informed.  

The road remained closed until lunchtime while collision investigation work was carried out. Surrey Police would like to speak to anyone who can help them with their investigation.

An elderly motorist who drove for six miles in the wrong direction on the M23 has been sentenced. 79 year old Keith Taylor from King’s Lynn in Norfolk pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He was also disqualified from driving for two years and must take an extended driving test before reapplying for his licence.

The incident occurred in January when Mr Taylor pulled onto the hard shoulder on the M23, before making a U turn. Despite oncoming headlights and evasive action taken by other motorists, the driver’s Volkswagen Polo continued in the wrong direction until police caught up with him near Maidenbower.  

The incident was captured on CCTV as shown on this footage from Sussex Police:

youtube.com/watch?v=7OBS0T2YdDo

A motorist has been attacked in what appears to have been a road rage incident in Copthorne.

The 67-year-old victim was travelling with his wife Monday evening.  They were followed by another car as they exited the M23.

Whilst driving along the A264 near Crawley, the driver of this other car overtook the victim, stopped and got out of his car.  It is at this point the offender is believed to have attacked the victim before driving off.

A 29-year-old man from Crawley has been arrested on suspicion of assault.