Father who reversed over son, 3, jailed for 12 months

Dad operated farm vehicle when tragic accident’ occurred ast Lia ss 1 my

- AMY-CLARE MARTIN

A father who reversed into his three-year-old son with a farm vehicle, killing the “caring and affectionate” toddler, has been jailed for 12 months.

Albie Speakman suffered catastrophic injuries after he wandered into the yard where Neil Speakman, 39, was operating a telehandler vehicle at his farm in Bury, Greater Manchester.

Speakman was this month cleared of gross negligence manslaughter over Albie’s death in July 2022, after the toddler had been left to play in an insecure garden area in front of the farmhouse in warm weather. The father said the incident was a “tragic accident”.

However, yesterday he was sentenced to 12 months in prison after admitting to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act in failing to ensure the safety of Albie. The toddler’s mother, Leah Bridge, had dropped off her son at the farm for a regular weekend visit with Speakman whom she separated from shortly after Albie’s birth.