THE devastated dad of the six-year-old boy crushed to death at Tilbury Docks has spoken of his heartbreak for the first time.

Dock worker Peter Littmoden, 40, recalled how he took his son Harry Palmer to work with him, like many dads had done before him, on that fateful day - August 29, 2003.

Harry was killed after being knocked off a forklift truck and crushed by a giant roll of paper.

Mr Littmoden opened his heart today as his employers, Port of Tilbury London, who pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching Health and Safety rules, prepared to be sentenced at Croydon Crown Court.

Mr Littmoden said: "Not a day goes by when I don't think about Harry and what happened.

"Harry was the heart of the family.

"My wife Jane, my daughter Katie, 12, and my step-daughters Chrissy, 20, and Nicola, 18, doted on him.

"When he died, my wife and I seperated and we were never the same close unit.

"Now I just want to see my daughter Katie grow up to have a happy life. My life is over."

In a previous court hearing, Mr Littmoden's decision to let his son ride on a forklift truck was described as "extra-ordinarily foolish".

But Mr Littmoden wanted people to see his side of the story.

He said: "Taking your children down to the docks was an accepted practice.

"I'm not saying it was right, but many of my colleagues did it, as did other organisations, in-cluding the police.

"I also want to stress the forklift that collided with Harry was carrying the insecure load that fell on him."

Although the Port of Tilbury was taken to court, Peter still speaks warmly of the managing director, Perry Glading.

He said: "He was so sympathetic for our loss.

"I couldn't have wished for a nicer man."

Ever since Harry's death Peter has struggled to cope.

He has been unable to hold down a job and now lives with his parents in Rigby Gardens, Grays.

When Harry was alive the family lived together in Stour Road, Chadwell St Mary.