Felixstowe man Peter Clifford appears before Suffolk Magistrates’ Court in Ipswich charged with manslaughter after Woodbridge construction incident in 2020

A 62-year-old man from Felixstowe has appeared in court charged with manslaughter after a fatal construction incident in Woodbridge nearly four years ago.

Peter Clifford, of Holland Road, appeared before Suffolk Magistrates’ Court in Ipswich yesterday in connection with the death of 30-year-old Dale Baker.

He stood accused of gross negligence manslaughter plus two counts of failing to discharge the employer’s general duty under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.

Of these, one count was under section 2 (1) while the other was under section 3 (1).

Emergency services were called to a house in Haughgate Close at 4.30pm on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, where Mr Baker suffered serious injuries while working on a renovation.

Mr Baker, also of Felixstowe, was pronounced dead at the scene.

In addition to the charges Clifford faced, the following charges were also made against Hintonwood East Anglia Ltd, c/o Peter Clifford (Director):

- Failing to discharge the employer’s general duty under Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.

- Failing to discharge the employer’s general duty under Section 3 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.

Magistrates sent the case straight to Ipswich Crown Court.