Semelia Campbell: Company fined £50,000 after six-year-old girl killed by automated gate

'Although today Cheshire Gate have been brought to justice it is my family and I that have paid the ultimate price'

Semelia Campbell (PA)

A company has been fined £50,000 after a six-year-old girl died when she became trapped in an automated gate outside her new home.

Little Semelia Campbell was killed when the "lethal" electronic sliding gate drove into her with "enormous force" as she played with a friend at the Maine Place residential development on the site of Manchester City FC's former stadium in Moss Side.

Cheshire Gate Automation Ltd, who had been subcontracted to install the gate, pleaded guilty to corporate manslaughter and was handed the fine after prosecutors said the company had left the gate in a "completely unsafe, not to say lethal state".

Manchester Crown Court heard that the schoolgirl had been playing with a six-year-old friend when the gates opened to allow a car to enter into the secure car park on the evening of 28 June, 2010.

But as the car drove through, Semelia began running backwards and forwards through the diminishing gap and became trapped in the automated gate before pushing her up against the slamming post.

The court was told that the gate had failed to detect Semelia's presence because safety features intended to prevent a crush - the force limitation and obstacle detection - were not in place.

Her family - who had only moved into one of the properties weeks earlier tried in vain to pull her out after Semelia whispered to her friend, "get my brother" before stopping breathing.

The court was told how her mother Judith Gilroy witnessed seeing her daughter trapped in the gate, with "fear in my daughter's eyes", describing neighbours trying to hold Semelia up and pull the gate back.

A police officer was able to smash the controlling mechanism and release the gate, freeing Semelia, but she later died.

Greater Manchester Police's Major Incident Team and the Health and Safety Executive conducted a joint investigation and it was established that the actions of the firm directly led to Semelia's death.

Prosecutor Mr Andrew McGee told the court that the company director Kriston Kearns, 43, had not known how to set the gate up to a safe standard.

He added that prior to the incident Mr Kearns had received a Health and Safety Executive bulletin warning of the dangers that gates posed to children, and that he and a co-worker had failed to read installation manuals.

Mr John Michael Cooper QC for Cheshire Gate Automation Ltd, said the firm had no input in the design and specification of the gates and it had been advised that there would be no pedestrian access.

Judge David Stockdale QC allowed that the fine be paid in installments of £8,000 per year and also made a publicity order that requires the company to advertise details of the case in local newspapers.

Detective Superintendent Peter Marsh of Greater Manchester Police said that her death was "totally avoidable".

He added: "A beautiful, lively little girl has lost her life in very tragic circumstances, and her family have lost a much loved daughter and sister. I cannot begin to express the sadness and trauma that Semelia's family have gone through since her tragic death.

"There are no winners in this sad case. Semelia's death was totally avoidable, the reckless actions of Cheshire Gate Automation Limited and their failure to comply with basic safety regulations turned a piece of machinery meant to keep people safe into a lethal weapon."

A statement on behalf of Semelia's family read: "No mother should have to witness their child die the way I did.

"The pain my family and I have endured during this very long investigation is indescribable and I pray that no other family will ever have to experience the same pain.

"The evidence presented in this case show with overwhelming conclusion that what happened to my Semelia could have been prevented, had the proper safety protocols been adhered to.

"I hope that other corporations and businesses will learn from this incident and take the necessary steps in order to prevent other such tragedies, because although today Cheshire Gate have been brought to justice it is my family and I that have paid the ultimate price."

PA