A firm has been fined just £1 for blunders that led to a man's death, after a court heard that it was struggling in the recession.
Building worker Peter Walton died when suffered head injuries after a board gave way beneath his feet and he fell 16 feet.
And the dead man's widow has spoken of her anger and disgust at the #1 fine handed-out to Glen Mill Developments Ltd.
Family man Peter, 55, fell while working at the firm's Altham Industrial Estate in Accrington on 10th May 2006 and died in hospital five weeks later.
In a Health and Safety Executive prosecution Haworth Scaffolding Services Ltd were fined #25,000 for breaches of regulations.
But the development company, Glen Mill Group Ltd, owners of the building where the accident happened, were fined just £1 after a judge at Preston Crown Court heard that it was struggling because of the recession.
Both companies pleaded guilty to breaches of safety regulations,.
An earlier hearing was told how a board that gave way had not been secured properly, in a job done by an experienced scaffolder.
Other breaches included the scaffolding being erected on broken concrete, being too far from the building and not being fitted with a guard rail.
Judge Andrew Woolman had been told that if the firm was handed a significant fine it could put them out of business, with the loss of thirty jobs.
Mother-of-two Christine Walton said: "I'm appalled by the fines, I had hoped for justice but these the sums involved are just pitiful and insulting to Peter's memory.
"It seems the judge didn't want to put the company out of business, but what kind of punishment is a £1 fine for their part in taking Peters life?"
Both companies were also ordered to pay £13,793 in court costs and both have issued formal apologies to the dead man's family.
But Christine said: "This £1 fine sends out the wrong message to negligent companies. This firm has got away with it because times are hard. It's outrageous."
HSE Inspector Ian Connor said: "This is an extremely sad case which once again shows how important it is to follow health and safety regulations.
"It's vital that construction companies do more to prevent deaths and injuries in the future."
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