A tragic accident has turned into a courtroom battle as Nicholas and Anthea Prest stand trial over the quadbike death of groundsman Paul Marsden on their Welsh estate. The couple is accused of breaching health and safety rules following the incident where Marsden, 47, was crushed while spraying weeds in April 2020. Nicholas Prest insists there was no safety lapse on his part, citing his belief in Marsden’s competence as a quadbike rider. He admitted he’d never seen a rider wear a helmet on private estates, although he didn’t claim this was best practice.
Under questioning, Prest acknowledged the increased risk of using quadbikes on sloped fields but emphasised that safely managing such risks was the responsibility of the rider. He defended not discussing the load capacity of the quadbike with Marsden on the day of the accident, stating that Marsden was familiar with the machine’s limits.
Colleague Nicholas James Miles found Marsden after he failed to return for routine breaks. The scene that greeted him was devastating: Marsden was pinned under the overturned bike. Miles recounted the discovery, explaining, “I was hoping he’d be stood next to it… I shouted for him, and then I saw he was under it.”
The trial continues as the court hears evidence about equipment safety checks and the couple’s compliance with health and safety obligations. The defence maintains that Marsden’s experience and the informal safety protocols in place were sufficient. Stay tuned for more updates as the case evolves.