6:21pm Friday 3rd September 2010
A BOOKIES has been fined £12,000 for failing to protect its staff after a manager was attacked with a Samurai sword during an armed raid.
Relief shop manager Martin Walker suffered serious facial injuries during the robbery at the Coral bookmakers in Woodgrange Drive, Southend on December 18, 2008.
The store was targeted two days earlier and again ten days later.
It prompted Southend Council health and safety officers to investigate the shop and resulted in charges being brought under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. At Southend Magistrates Court Coral Racing Ltd admitted a serious breach of the act - exposing staff members to work-related violence.
The company was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £6,170 costs.
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