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£4,000 for teen who lost finger
A "SHAMBOLIC" takeaway owner has been ordered to pay more than £8,000 after an underage worker had his finger severed at work.
Wayne Ashman, 16, will receive 4,000 compensation after his finger was sliced off by a potato chipping machine at Fresh Bite on Central Drive.
The finger, the middle digit of his left hand, ended up in a bucket of chips after he used the machine without a guard.
Wayne was forced to undergo months of painful surgery, including almost 100 stitches, to try to reattach the finger.
But efforts proved unsuccessful and it had to be amputated.
The shop's former owner Naresh Kumar, who had earlier pleaded guilty to 10 breaches of health and safety regulations, was fined 2,000 and ordered to pay 2,049 legal costs, as well as the compensation fee.
The charges related to failing to have the guard on the machine and employing underage workers.
Sentencing him at Preston Crown Court, Judge Pamela Bradley said Kumar had cut corners and been negligent.
"It was a shambolic system," the judge said.
"I don't find you set out to cut corners, but what I do see is that you didn't care.
"You certainly let down all who were working in your premises."
The horrific incident with the potato cutter happened in September last year.
Wayne's mother Hayley, from Daggers Hall Lane, Marton, who was in court for the hearing, said she hoped the case would stop other children from being hurt and encouraged business owners to take note.
She said: "I'm pleased he (Kumar) has been held responsible for what he has done and hopefully, as a result, nothing like this will happen to another child.
"Whether he will see what he has done wrong I don't know.
"Wayne will never get his finger back and it has had a massive effect on him.
"But it's something he has learned to live with and I will make sure he uses the money wisely to improve his life."
The youngster, who despite his bad experience is training to be a chef, now finds it difficult to type and has had to give up playing in goal for Staining Juniors football club.
Wayne labelled his former boss selfish for his negligence and both he and his mother stressed their thanks to Dr Harrop at Blackpool Victoria Hospital for his efforts to re-attach the finger.
Kumar, 41, of Abbotsford Road, Marton, has 12 months to pay the fine, costs and compensation.
Fresh Bite is now run by a new business, in the name of Kumar's wife.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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