AN EAST Yorkshire farmer has been ordered to pay a court bill of more than £2,800 after one of his employees broke 18 ribs and both wrists in an “avoidable” farm accident.

The worker also suffered internal injuries when he fell ten metres from a cherry picker, magistrates heard.

He was inspecting a silencer unit attached to a grain drying facility at Martin Geoffrey Warkup’s farm in Barmston near Bridlington in July 2016.

Warkup, partner in a farming company, of Barmston, pleaded guilty to breaching a health and safety regulation at Hull and Holderness Magistrates Court.

He was fined £1,600 with £1,216.10 prosecution costs in a case brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

HSE inspector Darian Dundas said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by planning ahead and putting in place suitable control measures and safe working practices.”