A SHAMED director of a scaffolding company has pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety protocols when one of his workers lost several limbs after suffering a horrific electric shock.

Jonathon Lee Griffiths-Clack, of Sambourne Road, Minety, appeared before Swindon Magistrates Court this afternoon after 33-year-old Jamie Mines lost his right leg, both hands and left foot amputated as a result of the injuries he received during the incident on December 19 last year.

He has since had to have his one remaining limb — his left leg — also amputated.

As well as facing an individual charge, Griffiths-Clack also pleaded guilty to breaching the health and safety laws on behalf of Boundary Scaffolding – the company that employed Jamie.

The case was brought by the Health and Safety Executive following an investigation into the incident which happened while Jamie was working at height, building a temporary shelter at Boundary Scaffolding’s unit in Kendrick Trading Estate.

HSE inspector Ian Whittles told the court that it was while Jamie was holding a tin sheet to make the roof that it came into contact with overhead power lines.

“The Health and Safety Executive feel that this is a high culpability case based on the fact there is clear guidance that you should not work within three meters of the overhead power lines without them being isolated,” he said.

As a result, Jamie was thrown back 13ft and landed on the half-finished metal roof.

In a victim impact statement read to the court from Jamie, a dad of infant twins, said: “I cannot put into words what it is like to wake up with no hands.

“All I can think of is the things I won’t be able to do, like hold my babies.

“I can’t play any sports that I really enjoyed.

“There are so many things I can’t do.

“It has been extremely difficult. I was a keen sportsman who enjoyed his job and I was really hands on with my babies. How my life has changed is indescribable."

Speaking of when he was in hospital, Jamie added: “I missed seeing my babies so much during that time.

“The first time I saw them I wondered if they would recognise me.

“I hope this gives you an insight into the horrific nine months so far and start of an extremely difficult life changing event.”

In the months that followed over £100,000 was raised for the amateur footballer to help him in his recovery after being discharged from hospital during the summer.

Defending Griffiths-Clack and Boundary Scaffolding, Craig Ferguson told the court that despite giving warnings to his workers about the dangers of the work, his client was extremely remorseful about what happened.

Mr Ferguson said: “Mr Griffiths-Clack entered a guilty plea at the earliest possible opportunity and the plea entered on behalf of the company on instruction by his co-director reflects his deepest regard for his neglect and failures to take steps to ensure that a safe system of work was in place and followed while working in the company’s own yard. The sort of steps that would be taken without exception while working outside the company’s own grounds.

“It is fully accepted by him that no pain or suffering that he has experienced can begin to compare with the unimaginable suffering that Jamie and his family have had to endure.

“Having successfully put seven metal sheets on, tragically it was the eighth sheet when he was manoeuvring it either touched or came within a distance of the cable that the electrocution happened.

"He should have never been so positioned that the risk would have become a reality.”

District Judge Anthony Callaway adjourned the case until October 6 for sentencing.