28 February 2025 , 16:37
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A father who accidentally killed his three-year-old son after reversing over him with farm equipment has been jailed.
Neil Speakman, 39, was sentenced to a year in prison after his son Albie suffered catastrophic injuries when he was hit with a Kramer telecaster while playing with dogs on their family farm in Bury in July 2022.
The court had previously heard how Speakman had been piloting the telecaster despite not being officially trained to use it. Further investigation found the vehicle had several defects, including a missing wing mirror.
Prosecutors claimed Albie died ‘as a result of his father’s negligence which created a serious and obvious risk of death’.
Speakman was cleared of gross negligence manslaughter by a jury during a previous hearing, and pumped his fists in court following the verdict.
Sentencing him at Manchester Crown Court, Mr Justice Bourne said: ‘There is no excuse for farms not following simple principles seen on HSE guidelines.’
On Friday, the court heard a victim impact statement from Albie’s mother which said: ‘It’s been two and a half years since Albie was taken from us, and believe me when I say, it does not get any easier.
‘It’s like no one can see how broken I am and how broken my life is, forever. Before Albie was killed – I have never thought about death, but now it’s all I think about, and I am not scared of dying anymore.
‘To everyone that hears this – Albie is just a name, but to me Albie was my reason to live, Albie was the voice who said “mummy, I love you”, Albie was the person I shared my life with, Albie is a brother, a grandson, a friend at nursery.
‘Albie is everything to me and now he is not here because of someone else’s actions. Albie, you are my everything boy and I am your everything girl. The only thing that keeps me going is thinking that every new day is one day closer to me seeing you again. I love you endlessly, my sunshine boy.’
Deputy Editor