A HANDYMAN was electrocuted as he carried out a job he was not legally allowed to, a jury was told today (March 9).

Les Buller was using basic tools and had no formal qualifications in electrical work when he was rewiring a barn and fitting a new socket, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The 59-year-old former builder was working at Moor House Farm, Stillington, near Stockton - the home of one of his employers - when the accident happened in 2012.

The countryside property belonged to Simon and Karen Brown, of long-established family firm Francis Brown Ltd, where Mr Buller had worked for many years.

Mrs Brown tearfully recalled finding the father-of-four on his back, clutching an electrical cable, with his face purple and smoke coming from his hand.

She broke down as she told the court how she cleared his airway, tried to talk him back to life and carried out chest compressions before paramedics arrived.

Mrs Brown fought back tears as she described Mr Buller, who also had five grandchildren and lived in the Roseworth area of Stockton, as "a chatty, lovely man".

Francis Brown Ltd, based in Stockton, is being prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive over allegations it breached Electricity at Work regulations of 1989.

It is said the company failed to discharge a duty by engaging someone in specialist work who did not have the necessary technical knowledge or experience.

Prosecutor Alex Offer told the jury of eight women and four men: "We invite you to return a guilty verdict. We say to you that this is a clear case.

"The work he had done fell below the appropriate professional standards, and the way he was working showed that he had limited electrical competency."

The jury was told that the company may claim Mr Buller was not working for them at the time, but as directors at their respective homes on a personal basis.

Mr Offer said it might also be argued the handyman insisted he was happy to do the work, but added: "We say it's just not good enough to ask someone if they are competent."

The trial, which is expected to last seven days, will resume today.