A company which owns a crane which went out of control on a steep hill and collided with a tractor and muck-spreader causing a farmer’s death has been fined £1,600 by a Court.

Hire firm Baldwins, of Haigh Park Road, Leeds, had admitted permitting driver Allan Woodrow to use a Grove GMX 3050 three axle mobile crane on Alma Hill, Otley Road, East Morton, near Bingley, with a laden weight which exceeded the maximum permitted.

Farmer and milkman Colin Chew, of Micklethwaite Lane, East Morton, who had been driving the tractor, later died in the accident in March last year.

Mr Woodrow escaped with minor injuries.

District Judge Susan Bouch, sitting at Bingley Court today, said she had considered the lengthy reports by the police and experts for the defence and the arguments relating to whether the overload contributed to the tragic death of the Mr Chew.

She said: “There was a 12 per cent overload – anything over ten per cent is considered serious. The maximum fine is £2,500 but I’m giving the company maximum credit for an early guilty plea.”

She also ordered the firm to pay £60 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Earlier, Sam Green, for Baldwins, told the District Judge that the company did not accept that the excess weight necessarily lead to the fatal accident.

However, prosecutor, Richard Davies said one of the possible reasons for the accident was extended use of the vehicle’s brakes which related to the manner of the way it had been driven.

The accident happened on March 26, 2009 when the 48 ton crane hit from behind the tractor and spreader. Mr Chew, 44, was flung from the tractor and hit the spreader suffering serious head and leg injuries.

He later died in Airedale General Hospital at Steeton, near Keighley.

The crane had been hired to move a grand piano between floors at the nearby home of concert pianist John Briggs.