A painter and decorator has received a suspended prison sentence following the workplace death of his 24-year-old stepson. The young man was fatally electrocuted while moving a ladder near overhead power lines. Daniel Watton, 50, appeared at Warrington Magistrates’ Court and admitted to safety breaches that led to the death of trainee painter Connor Lambert in Farndon, Cheshire.
The fatal incident occurred on 29 July 2024 while Watton was trading as Inside Out Painters and Decorators Property Maintenance. Lambert, from Market Drayton in Shropshire, was working alongside a colleague at the gable end of a residential property when they moved a fully extended ladder. The equipment either made direct contact with overhead cables or came close enough for electricity to arc across the gap. This resulted in Lambert’s instant death and left his colleague with severe burns to his hands, feet, and stomach.
HSE Investigation Reveals Serious Planning Failures
An extensive investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) uncovered multiple safety failures regarding how the project was managed. Investigators discovered that the initial plan-which specified using a tower scaffold and ladders to paint exterior sections featuring a glass canopy-was entirely unsuitable. Work on-site deviated from this flawed arrangement, with workers using ladders exclusively throughout the job.
Daniel Watton, of Wollerton, Market Drayton, approved these unsafe methods. The HSE concluded that the project lacked proper planning, adequate supervision, and safe execution. Investigators also noted that the equipment chosen was inappropriate for the tasks involved and highlighted significant shortcomings regarding the training and overall competence of the individuals carrying out the work.
Watton pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The court sentenced him to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered him to pay £10,645 in court costs.
Devastating Impact on Family Left Behind
The tragedy left a profound emotional toll on Connor Lambert’s family, who were anticipating a major new chapter in his life. At the time of his death, Lambert and his partner, Megan McCann, were expecting their first child after trying to start a family for three years. McCann was 32 weeks pregnant and had just received a Moses basket on the morning of the accident.
Paying tribute to her partner, Megan McCann said: “Connor was amazing. He had the cheekiest grin and would light up any room he was in – he was so funny. He was a caring person who always put everyone else first. I never thought I would have buried the love of the life and then given birth to our daughter 23 days later.”
Connor’s father, Craig West, expressed the heavy emotional burden left by the loss, stating that the experience permanently altered his temperament, outlook on life, and ability to find motivation in his daily work.
Regulatory Warning on High-Risk Work Environments
Following the sentencing, HSE Inspector Keeley Eves emphasized the strict precautions required when handling high-risk construction tasks near hazardous infrastructure.
This tragic incident meant a father never got to meet and hold his baby daughter. The fact it could and should have been prevented with proper planning and control measures makes it all the more stark. Work at height and work near overhead power lines are both high-risk activities. Employers must ensure that suitable equipment is selected, risks are fully assessed, and workers are adequately trained and supervised.
The Health and Safety Executive continues to remind employers that whenever work near overhead power lines is unavoidable, strict control measures must be enforced. These protocols require eliminating or actively reducing risks through power supply isolation, utilizing specialist non-conductive equipment, and maintaining strictly defined clearance zones from live electrical lines.
