A CHERRY PICKER operator who admitted his failings led to himself and another man suffering horrific injuries after being catapulted from the vehicle has been ordered to pay £6,000.

Karl Thackrah, 38, of Pottery Lane, York, and 44-year-old Christopher Cook, spent lengthy periods in hospital after they were knocked from the cherry picker when it was hit by a passing van.

The Recorder, Simon Hickey, handed out a fine of £2,500, with £3,500 costs, at York Crown Court yesterday.

Mr Cook’s wife, Julie, said: “I am happy with that. I am glad this is over now and we can draw a line under it and look forward to the New Year.

His sister, Diane Beat, said: “We are glad that this has brought closure to it.”

Mr Thackrah was in court for sentencing and was told by the Recorder that his actions had fallen “far below his duty” and that as a result Mr Cook had suffered catastrophic injuries in the fall.

Father-of-three Mr Cook was in a coma for a month and at one stage was believed brain-dead after he fell a full storey from the cherry-picker’s basket outside his home on Bootham in August last year.

Despite being qualified in the safe operation of the cherry picker, Thackrah admitted leaving the arm of the device dangerously over-hanging the road and had placed no cones or barriers around the vehicle to warn passing motorists.

This resulted in the boom arm being struck by a passing lorry, throwing the two men on to the pavement from a first floor level.

Before the incident, one witness said he had remarked to his wife that the set up was “an accident waiting to happen” and an off-duty police officer who was on his way over to the vehicle to express his concerns was nearly hit when the two men fell either side of him.

The Recorder said: “He (Thackrah) positioned the equipment in such a way that there was a risk of it being hit by traffic. The arm should not have been overhanging the highway.

“Mr Thackrah you had a responsibility to ensure the safety of yourself and Mr Cook and any passers-by.”

He added: “What happened was tragic in this case. The consequences were catastrophic for Mr Cook.”

Christopher Cook had hired the equipment from William Birch & Sons Ltd, of Osbaldwick, to carry out painting work on his home.

Mr Thackrah, then an employee of the company, worked as an operator of the cherry picker.

Earlier this year the company admitted not ensuring Mr Cook’s safety and were fined £12,500 with £2,500 prosecution costs by York magistrates.

In mitigation, the Recorder told the tearful father-of-three: “You pleaded guilty at almost the first opportunity. You are obviously a family man who has worked hard in the past.”

However, he said he must pass a sentence to “reflect the enormity of Mr Cook’s injuries”.

The case against Thackrah was brought by the Health and Safety Executive.