The director of a Leicester-based construction company has been given a suspended prison sentence after a man fell from height while working on site and died in hospital weeks later.
Stephen Pywell, 59, was working for Affordable Lifestyle Design Ltd on a project in Thurmaston on 18 March 2019 when he fell from a height of around 2.5m while walking on beams during the roof construction.
There was no edge protection in place to prevent falls.
Pywell was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery, but died several weeks later as a result of his injuries.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that James Pitsillides, the director of Affordable Lifestyle Design, had failed to manage the roof work.
This included ensuring that roofing subcontractors, including Pywell, were not exposed to health and safety risks.
Pitsillides pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, relating to an underlying breach of s.3(1) by his company at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on 7 May 2025.
He was given a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for two years. The district judge also ordered him to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and to pay £10,000 in costs.
