A 10-year-old boy died when an 'insecure and wobbly' queue barrier fell on him in Topshop, a court has heard. Kaden Reddick suffered a fatal head injury at the store in Reading's Oracle shopping centre during a family trip in February 2017.
Prosecutor James Ageros QC told Reading Crown Court that the barrier, weighing 110kg (about 17 stone), had been fixed to the floor with only two narrow screws, which were 'completely inappropriate' and failed. The barrier had never been stability tested between its installation in 2013-2014 and the incident.
The court heard that six days before Kaden's death, a similar unfixed barrier toppled over at a Topshop in Glasgow, fracturing a girl's skull. In 2015, another unfixed barrier in a Manchester store caused serious foot injuries to a shopper.
Arcadia Group, Topshop/Topman, and barrier manufacturer Realm Projects Ltd deny failing to discharge a health and safety duty. Stoneforce Ltd, which fitted the barriers, has pleaded guilty to the same charge.
