A TEESSIDE builder has been fined after a teenager on work experience fell from a garage roof smashing his wrists and elbows.

Carl Lambert, who trades as Safe and Sound Roofing, pleaded guilty to two breaches of health and safety regulations when he appeared before magistrates yesterday .

The 38-year-old father-of-two accepted full responsibility for the youngster falling from the single-storey garage when the pair were stripping its roof in June last year.

The court heard that 16-year-old Liam Bedford was working with Mr Lambert at an address in Yarm when the accident happened.

Robert Hirst, of the Health and Safety Executive, told the hearing that Mr Lambert had failed to provide a safe system to carry out the repairs and also failed to take measures to prevent workers falling.

He said: "They started stripping the garage and the young lad was told to knock over the old nails. He slipped and fell 2.4 metres on to the concrete drive at the front of the house. He suffered two fractured elbows and two fractured wrists.

"The young lad was resting his foot against the fascia board hammering the nails, then the board gave way and he slipped and fell."

Representing himself, Mr Lambert, of Coulby Newham, said he had worked for 15 years and never been involved in any accidents. The builder disputed the level of Mr Bedford's injuries but accepted full responsibility for the accident.

He said: "Obviously, I am very sorry the accident happened."

Magistrates criticised Mr Lambert for failing to implement safe working procedures, especially after he had been trading for more than 15 years, and because a 16-year-old boy had suffered serious injuries as a result.

But he was praised for co-operating with the HSE's investigation and for changing his working practices.

The self-employed roofer was fined £1,000 for the health and safety breaches and ordered to pay £322 towards court costs.