A UTILITIES firm has been fined £2.6m and ordered to pay £54,000 costs over the death of a worker who was crushed by a collapsing trench.

James Sim, 32, affectionately known 'Ginger' was working as a subcontractor on a construction site linked to a green energy project off Lancashire's coast.

His grieving mum Julie Williams, 57, called for more awareness of the dangers of trench accidents.

The mum-of-four said: " I was horrified when I looked at figures on the internet and found seven other people had died in trench accidents since Jamie died.

"Although the court case is over, this will never be over for us."

The family have been waiting three years for the conclusion of the investigation

Mr Sim was working as a subcontractor for construction firm LD Oliver on pipelines close to the Heysham windfarm, near Lancaster, during a scheme to connect wiring to the farm to extract the electricity.

But on April 14, 2010, the trench he was working in collapsed on top of him, knocking him unconscious.

Preston Crown Court was told of the harrowing moment his colleagues, who had shouted a warning at him when a vertical crack appeared in the trench, saw a chunk of clay collapse onto him and strike his neck and back, virtually burying him.

The workers frantically tried to free him by hand and with a digger, but he was trapped beneath the rubble for around 40 minutes, starving him of oxygen.

He was eventually flown by air ambulance to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary where he was placed in intensive care on life support.

However on April 23, he died after contracting pneumonia and remaining unresponsive.

Balfour Beatty Utilities Solutions Ltd, which has a £3bn annual turnover, admitted three offences under health and safety legislation.

Prosecuting, Adrian Farrow said: "He was involved in duct laying within a trench. That trench had been excavated by a mechanical digger. The trench collapsed on him and caused injuries from which he did not recover."

He added: "The work was delayed by the need to obtain a licence for the protection of newts in the area. The effect was the defendant company required an additional workforce to progress the work, so arrangements were made that LD Oliver would take some of the work on their behalf."

His parents Julie and Tony, also from Barry, attended the hearing at Preston Crown Court and were tearful as The Honorary Recorder of Preston, Judge Mark Brown, asked for the family's statements, speaking of the impact of Jamie's death, to be summarised in court.

In one, his brother Nathan tells how he had to break the devastating news of the accident to his family before facing a long drive north to Lancaster.

The court was also told how his family made the brave decision to allow Jamie's organs to be donated to help others when doctors said there was nothing more they could do for him.

The court heard how six days before the accident, engineers e-mailed a report to Balfour Beatty highlighting the narrowness of the trench, and that it was showing signs of caving.

The prosecution say this should have served to highlight a number of issues including the caving in of the trench wall."

Witnesses had previously told an inquest the trench appeared to be too narrow, and the inquest also found significant safety oversights contributed to his death.

Defending the firm, Mark Scoggins said it was not a case of deliberate or reckless failure, but oversights by a number of individuals.

He read a statement from the company which said: " Our shortcomings led to the accident in which Mr Sim so tragically lost his life. That should not have happened.

"On behalf of Balfour Beatty and its directors can we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr Sim."

Judge Brown said the company's actions "fell far below the required standards".

He said it was apparent there was a misunderstanding between various departments about would provide on site supervision, that risks assessments failed significantly to address a number of key factors, and no sheeting or supportive measures were in the trench.

He added: "The trench was too narrow for safe working, meaning when it collapsed he did not have the room to escape - in other words he was caught in an impossible position.

"The tragic death of James Sim has had a devastating effect on his family.

"They not only feel the terrible bitterness of separation but also know the pride of what he did and what he achieved in his life. They have been deprived of the love, affection and companionship he would have given over the years ahead.

"Every life is precious and the death will be followed by lifelong grief and pain to them.

"It's my judgment this tragic accident was foreseeable, entirely avoidable and should never have happened."