Smith had been manually carrying old roof slates down a ladder attached to the scaffold platform at a domestic property in Honiton when he fell, suffering serious injuries, including five broken vertebrae, as well as skull and rib fractures.

Devon Air Ambulance took Smith to Derriford Hospital, where he was put into an induced coma for five days. He has since made a remarkable recovery but still suffers from the effects of his injuries.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Hooper, 28, trading as Hooper Roofing, failed to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of his employees as he did not undertake any planning, appropriately supervise the work at height, or supply suitable equipment to do the task safely.

The HSE found that ladders were used to transfer heavy slate tiles to and from the scaffolding platform, and this practice was not safe, so far as reasonably practicable. 

Hooper, of Brook Road, Cullompton, Devon, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

At Exeter Magistrates’ Court on 6 February 2025, he was sentenced to 16 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work in the community. He was also ordered to pay costs of £10,875.

Working at height remains one of the biggest causes of fatalities and significant injuries. HSE figures show that 50 people died as a result of this type of accident in 2023-2024.