A COLLAPSED North East bridge builder is due to be sentenced in relation to safety breaches which led to the death of one of its employees more than five years ago.

The court case against Darlington-based Cleveland Bridge, responsible for some of the greatest structures in the world, took place after an employee died at work in October 2016.

Keith Poppleton suffered fatal injuries after falling from a 25ft travelling crane.

Read more: Darlington firm Cleveland Bridge in court for 'safety breaches'

Mr Poppleton, then of Tunstall Road, Stockton died after falling through an inspection hatch and landing on a pile of metal girders, an inquest in 2018 heard.

The 54-year-old sub-contractor later died in hospital.

The Northern Echo:

In court on Friday, Cleveland Bridge was accused of failing to ensure the safety of an employee while working at height on overhead crane platforms.

Read more: Widow's tears for husband who died in fall at Cleveland Bridge

The company was charged under the the Health and Safety at Work Act.

No-one from the company attended the hearing at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

The case was sent to Teesside Crown Court for sentencing on December 17.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Darlington Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054