A judge has issued a warrant for the arrest of a construction firm director who failed to attend court to face charges of manslaughter plus health and safety breaches relating to a 2020 site death.
Peter Clifford, formerly of Holland Road, Felixtowe, failed to turn up to Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday 20 March and again on Friday (4 March).
Clifford faces charges relating to an incident in December 2020, when a man undertaking renovation work at a house in Woodbridge, Suffolk, died.
A statement from Suffolk Constabulary said: “Following his first failure to appear, the court issued a warrant for his arrest and police are now appealing for assistance from the public to locate him.”
Police said that Clifford, formerly of Holland Road, Felixstowe, was charged with three offences in October last year following a joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive:
- Gross negligence manslaughter;
- Failing to discharge the employer’s general duty under Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, (concerning the excavation of a trench and landscaping of the northern and western boundaries – in relation to risk to employees);
- Failing to discharge the employer’s general duty under Section 3 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, (concerning the landscaping of the northern and western boundaries – in relation to risk to neighbours).
A further two charges were made against Hintonwood East Anglia Ltd, c/o Peter Clifford (director):
- Failing to discharge the employer’s general duty under Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, (concerning the excavation of a trench and landscaping of the northern and western boundaries – in relation to risk to employees);
- Failing to discharge the employer’s general duty under Section 3 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, (concerning the landscaping of the northern and western boundaries – in relation to risk to neighbours).
The man who died was identified as Dale Baker, aged 30, from Felixstowe.
Police described Clifford as white, 5ft 10in tall, bald with receding hair at the sides and of heavy build. He has links to Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and London, they added.
They asked anyone with information on Clifford’s whereabouts to call them on 101 quoting reference: 37/72620/20.