Diy chain admits safety breaches after dirty hot tub caused legionn...

SWNS DIY chain admits safety breaches after dirty hot tub caused Legionnaires' disease outbreak Delivery driver Richard Griffin, 64, and customer William Hammersley, 79, died after

contracting the disease in the summer of 2012. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said the "probable source" came from a hot tub on display at the JTF Warehouse in Fenton,

Stoke-on-Trent, which had not been filtered or cleaned for weeks. It caused the water in it to stagnate, leading to the the formation of bacteria and the build up of Legionnaires'

disease droplets. When the hot tub was then turned on the particles became airborne and spread around the garden centre. Father-of-two Mr Griffin, from Clayton, Staffordshire, was the first

victim of the outbreak and died on August 2, 2012, after spending a week in hospital. RELATED ARTICLES > The day after the visit to JTF both he and his wife started to feel > ill >

  > Prosecutor Andrew Thomas QC He had been delivering meat to the cafe, right next to the display hot tube, at the JTF Warehouse which he visited five days a week. Grandfather-of-two Mr

Hammersley, from Chesterton, Staffordshire, died on August 4. A further 21 people were also struck down by the outbreak, of which 18 required hospital treatment. A court heard how JFT

Wholesale Limited, which runs the DIY and garden centre chain, should have had better maintenance of the hot tub and a more thorough risk assessment. The firm admitted to failing to ensure

the safety of people other than employees between January 1, 2012 and July 26, 2012 at Stafford Crown Court on Thursday (29/6). SWNS The HPA said the 'probable source' came from a

hot tub on display at the JTF Warehouse in Stoke JFT Wholesale Limited, which has 12 branches across the Midlands and north of England, will be sentenced on Monday. The court heard Mr

Griffin suffered headaches, fever and hallucinations before losing consciousness at his home and dying at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire from multiple organ failure.

Prosecutor Andrew Thomas QC said: "He went to the store every day and had not had a day off through illness in 35 years. "He went off ill on July 18 and was found dead on July

23." Meanwhile Mr Hammersley had been in hospital with pneumonia before being discharged and visiting JTF with his wife. SWNS JFT Wholesale Limited will be sentenced on Monday Mr Thomas

added: "The day after the visit to JTF both he and his wife started to feel ill. "His wife was seriously ill and was discharged from hospital the day before her husband died.

"She only got to see him briefly." A third man, customer Harry Cadman, 71, of Stoke-on-Trent, also died but the Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence to

bring the same charge. The Nordic Impulse Deep Hot Tub is believed to have exposed customers to the deadly disease between a two-month period from June to July 2012. SWNS Two men were killed

from Legionnaires' disease Last year, the victims' families received more than £200,000 in damages, with the firm having already handed out a total of £100,000 to 13 survivors.

Jonathan Laidlaw QC, defending, said: "We accept JTF had not shown the compassion which might have been expected against this backdrop of loss and suffering. "It is not a case of

putting profits before training or doing things on the cheap. "But the company accepts there is a fault in putting a rigorous system in place in accordance with guidance." In a

victim impact statement, the daughter of Mr Griffin, who was looking forward to retiring at the time of his death, said: "My dad was a wonderful man who was loving and caring to my

sister and me. "He worked for his brother up until the day he died as a delivery driver. "Even though he enjoyed work he planned to retire in 2012 but sadly never got to fulfil his

retirement plans. "I am getting married this year and it is supposed to be the happiest day of your life and I know it will be for me. "But my dad will not be with me to walk me

down the aisle, make a speech or have photos taken." A statement from Mr Hammersley's family read: "It is difficult to comprehend how a simple shopping trip could have such

serious consequences for us all. "Both mum and dad were extremely poorly and admitted to the same hospital on separate wards. "The only contact they had with each other was on the

telephone fighting for breath to say words like 'I love you'. They had been married for 57 years."