Farmer to pay £3,500 for letting grandson ride in tractor

A farmer has been ordered to pay £3,500 after repeatedly allowing his young grandson to ride in his tractor, despite warnings from authorities and a complaint from a neighbour.

In 2020, a neighbour reported seeing William Walters operating a tractor with his young grandson on board at Tirmynydd Farm, Swansea, south Wales.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) warned the 78-year-old farmer that it was illegal under the Health and Safety Act to allow a child under 13 to ride in a tractor, Wales Online reported.

See also: HSE advice to keep children safe on farms this summer

Mr Walters, of Birchgrove, Swansea, acknowledged the warning and was issued a prohibition notice to prevent him from carrying any child under 13 in the vehicle.

Despite the warnings, in 2021 Mr Walters was seen again with his grandson in the tractor after the child fell off a horse.

The neighbour, who had raised the initial concern, provided photographic and video evidence of the incident. Mr Walters’ daughter explained that her father transported her son back to the farm in the tractor to avoid him having to walk after the fall.

Mr Walters pleaded guilty to one offence under the Health and Safety Act.

At a sentencing hearing at Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday 27 August, it was also revealed that he was in breach of a 12-month suspended prison sentence for a previous environmental offence in 2019, involving the illegal deposit of controlled waste for financial gain.

Mr Walters’ lawyer, Harry Dickens, argued that his client was remorseful and felt his actions were necessary due to his grandson’s injury.

Mr Dickens also mentioned that Mr Walters had outstanding financial obligations to the court from his previous convictions and was involved in a county court dispute.

Sentencing Mr Walters, Recorder Jonathan Rees KC described his actions as a “flagrant disregard for the law”, highlighting the potential safety risks, including the possibility of a child interfering with machinery controls or distracting the driver.

Mr Walters was sentenced to a 12-month community order with a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement. He was also ordered to pay £3,000 in court costs and a £500 fine.

Every year, children are killed and seriously injured in incidents involving farm vehicles, and incidents generally spike around school holidays when children are at home.

The NFU has repeatedly stated that farms and farmyards are workplaces, not playgrounds, and are therefore not suitable for children.