Companies plead guilty seven years after two men found dead in poultry factory fridge

Banham Poultry Ltd and Air Products PLC have pleaded guilty to charges linked to the death of two men from a pest control company who froze to death in a refrigerator at a poultry factory

Two companies have pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches after two men froze to death in a refrigerator at a poultry factory in 2018.

Police were called to the site around 1am, on October 4, 2018 to find Jonathan Collins, 34, and Neil Moon, 49 dead at the poultry factory in Norfolk. The men had visited the Banham Poultry Ltd factory as subcontractors from a pest control company.

Two companies, Banham Poultry Ltd and Air Products PLC, have pleaded guilty to health and safety offences after they were charged following the subcontractors freezing to death.

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The two men had “frozen hands and faces” and there was “evidence of frost on the floor”, a coroner’s court review in 2024 heard. A full inquest is yet to be held.

The two companies were set for trial at Norwich Crown Court on Wednesday, February 25.

Each company was charged with two counts of corporate manslaughter.

Banham Poultry Limited was also charged with two counts of failing to discharge duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 while Air Products PLC was faced with one count of the same charge.

Guilty pleas were entered on behalf of Banham Poultry in respect of two Health and Safety at Work offences and by Air Products PLC in relation to one breach.

Both companies denied the two counts of corporate manslaughter.

Craig Hassall KC, prosecuting, said the pleas were acceptable and offered no evidence in respect of the manslaughter charges, stating not guilty verdicts should be entered.

Sentencing is set for a two-day hearing starting on March 31.

Banham Poultry has changed ownership twice since the incident. The day after the deaths, the company said the factory had been bought by Chesterfield Poultry after Banham Poultry went into administration.

In October 2021, the business was sold to the current owners Boparan Private Office (BPO). The current management and owners of Banham Poultry are not connected to the incident nor involved in the legal proceedings.

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