A HAMPSHIRE scrap metal firm has been made to pay out almost £85,000 after a popular father was crushed to death by a crane.

Barry Collins died instantly when the van he was in was picked up by hydraulic pincers.

The 24-year-old had been at James Huntley and Sons’ scrapyard in Southampton because he wanted to buy a rare Volkswagen vehicle for parts.

At Southampton Crown Court, the firm was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay a further £34,373 in costs after admitting breaching health and safety laws.

The court heard father-of-one Mr Collins, a popular banger racer from Sholing, had walked into the yard on Ashley Crescent, just off Portsmouth Road, through the back entrance.

He and his brother Joey had been able to walk around the site unchallenged by staff, most of whom had just finished a tea break.

As Mr Collins was inside the van’s cab, his brother heard a crane start up and went to warn the operator of their presence.

Tragically his message was misinterpreted as a request to move the vehicle, and he began to lift it off the ground.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found there was just one sign on the site telling visitors to report to the office, and that could not be seen from outside.

Neither employees nor customers were made to wear high-visibility clothing or hard hats “There was a lack of adequate control over access and movement on site,” said prosecutor Mark Balysz.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety legislation by failing to ensure the safety of non-employees on the site, and having no written risk assessment in place.

Defending, James Leonard said as family friends, the Collins brothers had been the only customers ever allowed to buy vehicles from the yard, but had been told nine months previously that arrangement had ended.

The barrister added that Mr Collins had contributed significantly to the tragedy, it was “highly unlikely” the improvements made since would have prevented it.

Judge Tom Longbotham described the August 2007 incident as a “devastating and tragic accident”.

“This is a desperately serious matter,”

he said.

“Reasonable and practicable controls and systems could have been put in place.

“The company after the accident has done all that a responsible company could and should do.”

Speaking afterwards, members of Mr Collins’ family said they hoped they could now move on.

“We’re just glad it’s all over,” said his sister, Ellen Collins.

“No matter how much the fine, it wasn’t going to bring Barry back.”