A LIFT engineer has been cleared of a serious health and safety breach after a 92-year-old woman fell down a care home lift shaft and died.

The company he worked for, Derwent Lift Services, based on Greencroft Industrial Estate, in Annfield Plain, near Stanley, County Durham, has also been cleared of failing to discharge its statutory duty following a Newcastle Crown Court trial.

However the firm was today, (Friday, December 14) found guilty of failing to conduct a suitable and safe risk assessment.

The jury, consisting of eight men, and four women, took three hours to return their verdicts.

Paul Thompson, of Hayleazes Road, Denton Burn, Newcastle, an engineer with 42 years experience, said ‘thank you’ to the jury as the verdict was read out.

The 61-year-old, who denied failing to discharge a statutory duty, declined to comment after the case.

The jury heard how Elizabeth Young, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease and walked with a zimmer frame died after falling ten feet down a lift shaft two days after maintenance work was carried out in September 2010.

Prosecutors had alleged the lift door was left unsecured.

Henry Kirkup, the firm’s solicitor, said: “Derwent Lifts was greatly saddened by Mrs Young's death in 2010. The company has always denied that any of its actions caused her death and is relieved that the verdicts of the jury vindicate this view.

“Although the company is naturally disappointed to have been convicted of one of the charges it notes that this was of a technical nature and was not connected to Mrs Young's death.”

The prosecution was brought by North Tyneside Council after following an investigation at Heathdale Residential Care Home in Whitley Bay, where Mrs Young had lived for 18 months.

A North Tyneside Council spokesman said: "Although we are disappointed with today’s outcome, we respect the court’s decision.

“We note that the court found the company failed to carry out an adequate risk assessment. Such measures are always important, but even more so in situations where there are older and vulnerable residents.

“Mrs Young should clearly not have died in such tragic and avoidable circumstances. We recognise that this verdict will not provide her family with the closure they sought.”

The sentencing of the company has been adjourned until January 17.

No-one from care home was available.