AN electrician fell 15ft to his death from a defective ladder as he changed a strip lightbulb in a North-East factory, a court heard yesterday.

Father-of-two Stuart Crooks, died at the Primex Plastic plant in Beaumont Way, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, in December 2003, Bishop Auckland magistrates were told.

His boss, Angus Lorimer, of Lorimer Electrical, Burtree Road, Newton Aycliffe, and Primex works manager Alan Pollit, admitted failing to ensure his safety.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of £20,000, but magistrates referred the case to a Crown Court judge, who has unrestricted powers.

Dr David Shallow, prosecuting, told the court the aluminium ladder's rubber feet were pushed up inside the frame, leaving bare metal edges to take the whole weight. He said: "Mr Crooks was carrying a 2.5m fluorescent light and fitting, and it would have been impossible to manoeuvre this and hold on to the ladder. We don't know exactly what happened. He may have lost his balance."

Mr Crook's workmate Peter Stiles, who had been holding the base of the ladder, broke his arm in the accident.

Dr Shallow said: "The ladder was defective and was only suitable for domestic use.

"They should have provided a small scaffolding tower or mobile work platform. Using a ladder should have been the last choice to have someone working at a height like this."

Alison Shepherd, for Lorimer, who was operating as a sole trader at the time of the tragedy, said his company had a good safety record.

She said: "This was a lapse on a very small point."

Mark Thomas, for Primex, said there had been wholesale management changes at the American-owned company.

Mr Crook's widow Alison, 33, said after the hearing that sons Callum, 13, and Connor, eight, still missed their father.

She said: "He was always taking them to play golf. They were always with him and they haven't got over what happened."