A farmer has been ordered to pay more than £3,000 after breaking the law by allowing his grandson to ride on a tractor with him. William Walters, 78, of Tirmynydd Farm in Swansea, received a warning but was caught repeating the offence after his grandson fell from a horse. A neighbour raised concerns about Walters operating a tractor with his grandchildren on board, particularly with his grandson riding in the front of the vehicle. This contravenes the Health and Safety Act, which prohibits children under the age of 13 from riding in a tractor.
In November 2020, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) staff visited Walters’ farm and he admitted to allowing his grandchildren in agricultural vehicles. Despite a probation notice prohibiting him from carrying anyone under 13 in a tractor, a subsequent report in 2021 revealed that Walters continued the practice. A neighbour alerted HSE with a photo and video showing Walters’ grandson in the tractor cab while feeding cattle. Walters’ daughter also provided a statement recounting an incident where her son fell from a horse, necessitating the use of the tractor to return to the farm.
William Walters pleaded guilty to the offence under the Health and Safety Act. He was in breach of a suspended prison sentence from 2019 for an environmental offence. In court, his lawyer, Harry Dickens, highlighted Walters’ remorse and explained his actions as a response to his grandson’s injury. Recorder Jonathan Rees KC condemned Walters, stating that allowing a child in a tractor poses risks like interfering with controls or distracting the driver. Walters received a 12-month community order with a 25-day rehabilitation requirement, along with a £3,000 court cost and a £500 fine.