A MAN who was crushed by a digger bucket has been awarded £3,500 in compensation, while the driver has been fined.
Dominic Dalton, 36, from Erdington, Birmingham, suffered head injuries, a broken lower leg, broken pelvis and badly bruised arm in the incident at Quedgeley Urban Village, in Naas Lane, on November 24.
Excavator driver Kevan Fell was working on a drainage system at the new housing estate and needed to change the bucket on the vehicle.
Cheltenham Magistrates' Court heard yesterday that he failed to test the bucket was secure. Instead, he started using it for excavation work straightaway and the bucket came off, hitting Mr Dalton who was working below.
Mr Fell, of Hackwell Street, Napton, Warwickshire, pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined £500 and ordered to pay £1,746 in costs.
He was also ordered to pay £3,500 in compensation to Mr Dalton.