A heavy drinker who botched installation works on his caravan’s generator is facing jail after his partner was electrocuted to death while preparing a barbecue.
James Atkin, 43, has been convicted for the gross negligence manslaughter of 40-year-old Deana Simpson, who collapsed by the cooker more than three years ago.
Ms Simpson had received a fatal electric shock while in the kitchen of the caravan, where the couple lived on a farm in Willoughby, Rugby.
Warwick Crown Court heard how Atkin, who was in the habit of drinking neat spirits and strong beer on a daily basis, had tried to carry out specialist work on the generator the day before with a beer in hand.
After being found guilty over her death by unanimous verdict, Judge Sylvia de Bertodano warned him to expect a prison sentence.
His father, Trevor Atkin, 72, who owned the farm, was also convicted for two charges of health and safety breaches.
James Atkin, 43, has been convicted for the gross negligence manslaughter of 40-year-old Deana Simpson, who collapsed by the cooker more than three years ago
Paramedics were unable to save Ms Simpson, originally from Bedworth, near Coventry, who died in the caravan on the evening of August 26, 2017.
Atkin only dialled 999 after receiving a smaller shock himself, having first thought his partner was playing a joke and even taking a picture of her twitching on the floor, according to Coventry Live.
A recording of the call for an ambulance picked up a conversation about the electrics being switched off.
The subsequent investigation established that Atkin had tried to fit a new invertor, despite him being told the work required a qualified electrician.
The court heard how the day before, Atkin had turned up to work drunk but clocked off early to continue work on the caravan’s electrics still clutching a beer.
During the course of the trial, prosecutor Michael Burrows QC said the his five-and-a-half-year relationship with Ms Simpson had been turbulent due to their heavy drinking.
Five days after Ms Simpson’s death, a fully qualified electrician and a registered expert witness examined the electrical installation.
Trevor Atkin, 72, who owned the farm, was also convicted for two charges of health and safety breaches
He found it was in a poor and dangerous condition, and the potential for electric shock was immediately obvious, with poor and incorrect connections, no proper adequate earthing and no protective devices as required by manufacturer’s instructions.
Before sending the jury to deliberate, Judge Bertodano had told them: ‘It does not help the defendant to have it said on his behalf that he was so drunk he did not know how serious it was.’
They subsequently convicted him of gross negligence manslaughter by a unanimous verdict, according to the Rugby Advertiser.
It was also deemed at court that Trevor Atkin had been complicit with the work his son had carried out on his property, and as an employer, he also had a duty to maintain the electrical system relating to the caravan so it was not dangerous.
And as Ms Simpson lived in the caravan, he also had a duty of care and a duty to ensure she was not exposed to risks to her safety.
Trevor Atkin pleaded guilty to his health and safety breaches midway through the trial.
James and Trevor Atkins will be sentenced on Thursday, December 17.
Following the outcome, investigating officer, Detective Constable Hazel Charlton from Warwickshire Police Major Investigation Unit said: ‘I would like to praise Deana’s family and friends for their patience and full co-operation throughout what has been a lengthy and often challenging process.
‘They have had to come to terms with the sudden loss of a much loved family member and friend, and then had to endure a harrowing and protracted investigation to finally bring about a satisfactory conclusion to the circumstances surrounding Deana’s death.’
Following the court verdict, Deana’s family paid tribute to the ‘beautiful’ mother, daughter, sister, granddaughter, auntie, niece and cousin.
They added: ‘Rest in perfect paradise our angel, we will love you forever.’