A MOTHER whose son was crushed to death at work has criticised a court's decision to fine his employers only £10,000 for breaching safety rules.

Factory worker and young father James West, 22, was killed when an overhead crane operated by an untrained colleague knocked heavy metal cubes on top of him at NEF Ltd in Darlington.

The engineering firm, based at the Cleveland Trading Estate in Cleveland Road, yesterday admitted at Teesside Crown Court failing to ensure the safety of its staff and permitting employees to use the crane without adequate training.

David Rowlands, prosecuting for the Health and Safety Executive, told the court that most of the ten workers in the factory drove the crane without training.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox QC, imposed a £5,000 fine for each offence with £3,804 costs.

Mr West's mother, Julie Jones, 46, landlady of the Red Lion pub in Shildon, County Durham, said last night that the fine was not nearly enough.

"We were expecting it to be a lot higher - £10,000 is nothing for a 22-year-old's life.

"It's not a lot considering I have got a four-year-old grandson, Joseph, who has got no dad now."

She said the shock of the horrific accident would never leave her.

"He was 22. He went to work. He should have come home. I don't think I will ever get over it."

Ms Jones, who is divorced from James's father, said lots of questions remained unanswered about NEF's conduct.

"All the safety measures are there now. They should have been there then," she said.

Her son had left the Red Lion to move in with his girlfriend shortly before the accident last September.

Since the tragedy, NEF has been sold for £170,000.